TheThe Volume 46 Winter/Spring 2012 OrOrOrthodoxthodoxthodoxChurChurChurchchch A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA

The Diocese of Mexico Celebrating forty years of ministry and growth! The Editorial OrthodoxChurch

The Orthodox Church [ISSN 0048- Remembering 2269] is published quarterly by the Orthodox Church in America, Father John Meyendorff PO Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791-0675. His Beatitude, Jonah Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky of Washington Metropolitan of All America and Canada uly 22, 2012, will mark the 20th anniversary of of the Orthodox Church in Father John Meyendorff’s death. A better way America to speak of Father John’s repose would be to Archpriest John Matusiak say that he died “in hope of the resurrection.” Managing Editor • [email protected] These words are used in Orthodox prayers for J Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky the departed. Father John’s theological vision, Editor • [email protected] in accord with the great Christian theologians, affirmed and celebrated the dynamism of our life and our movement toward the EDITORIAL OFFICE resurrection. 570 Crescent Blvd. #506 In remembering Father John and reflecting Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 on his life and ministry, it is clear that he 630.790.1195 was a theologian of depth and a teacher of [email protected] excellence. In this he witnessed to Christ, to the Gospel, to the Orthodox Faith. He The Orthodox Church magazine exemplified intellectual integrity and identifies official statements and positions seriousness and was allergic to untruth in any of the Orthodox Church in America. All form. Theology and teaching were not other materials represent the views of their “academic” endeavors for Father John. He placed his intellect and his teaching in the authors and should not be interpreted service of the Church. In this sense, he was as much a pastor as he was a theologian and as expressing the policy of the OCA or teacher. During the years of his labors as theologian and historian, teacher and lecturer, The Orthodox Church magazine. Father John achieved respect and recognition around the world in the Orthodox Church, in the ecumenical world, and in academia. Among the Orthodox Churches, his voice articulated the vision of the Orthodox Church in America, affirming the imperative need IMPORTANT NOTE for unity and mission. In the ecumenical and academic worlds, he articulated and bore While printing of The Orthodox witness to the Orthodox vision of God’s creation and the meaning and content of human life Church has resumed, finances in light of the biblical teaching on the image and likeness of God in each human person. do not permit the mailing of As editor of The Orthodox Church newspaper for 20 years, Father John made a major contribution to public discussion of the challenges facing the Orthodox Church in America copies to individual homes, as and around the world. He saw his service as editor as a continuation of his task as teacher had been done for over four of theology and history. He knew that an educated and informed clergy and laity were decades. The current budget necessary for a healthy Church. His birth and education in France were no obstacle to his allows for the printing and bulk love for America. On the contrary, he entered fully into the experience of American distribution of approximately Orthodoxy, understanding its challenges and appreciating its gifts and possibilities. 9,500 copies, rather than the In the story of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America, Father John was former 26,000 individually more than a teacher and scholar. He played a key role in the negotiations which led to mailed copies. Every parish the granting of autocephaly, working closely with Father Alexander Schmemann and the other members of the team charged by the Holy Synod with the responsibility for dialogue will continue to receive a and negotiation with the . packet of copies in bulk for A central aspect of Father John’s thought and teaching was the calling of the Orthodox distribution locally. The Church to overcome the limitations of national, ethnic Orthodoxy through a proper number of copies a given vision and experience of the unity and universality of the Orthodox Church. This did not parish receives may not mean for him that the national and ethnic realities should be despised or rejected. It did correspond to its actual mean that the true vocation of the Orthodox Church cannot be confined to the boundaries reported membership. of ethnic and national identities. This insight guided the “creators” of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America, and still guides our vision of Orthodox mission in America. Visit us on-line at The various aspects of Father John’s life and ministry were complementary. Scholar and Editorial to 26 http://oca.org.

2 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 Archpriest Daniel Kovalak That’stheSpirit

“He’s Coming Back!”

They returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. LUKE 24:53

he frenzy created by “more ‘ordinary’ time” in those who predicted our worship? The answer that the world would can be found in the Acts of come to an end on the Apostles. “While they T May 21, 2011 – and, were gazing into heaven as when that didn’t happen, He [Jesus] went, behold, October 21 – seems to have two men stood by them in subsided. But now a new white robes, and said, ‘Men date, December 21, 2012, of Galilee, why do you has been proposed, this stand looking into heaven? time based on an ancient This Jesus, Who was taken Central American calendar. up from you into heaven, It’s easy to dismiss such will come in the same way predictions, especially after as you saw Him go into they fail to materialize as heaven’” [Acts 1:11]. some expected. This has, in fact, been the case on numerous The “two men” referred to are angels. Whenever angels occasions throughout history. Some groups that exist to this appear in the Scriptures or in the world, extraordinary things day were actually founded around such predictions. happen. They exist to serve God and to be His messengers. So it Yet this deson’t mean there’s not something to be gained was not only the promise of Christ’s return, but it’s confirmation from prognostication. If even for a moment, we entertained the by the holy angels at the Ascension, that brought great joy to thought that there might be a hint of truth to the impending the disciples. What was that promise again? That Christ will judgment of God, a spiritual purpose will have been served. This indeed return – in the same manner as He had left. is certainly consistent with the Scriptures and teaching of the This is one of the fundamental teachings of our faith. In the Church Fathers, who encourage us to ceaselessly pray for one Creed, we profess that “He will come again in glory to judge more day, one more hour, even one more breath in order to repent. the living and the dead, Whose Kingdom shall have no end.” This is also a lesson easily applied to our present, post-Paschal Did we ever consider this article of faith to be a source of liturgical life. Forty days after His glorious resurrection, Christ “great joy” for us? It certainly was for the disciples and the early ascended in glory from the Mount of Olives. As for the apostles, Church! They could hardly wait for Christ’s return! He promised “they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually it, and they were expecting Him to fulfill His promise. And the in the temple, praising and blessing God” [Luke 24:53]. This point is, so do we! This is a cause for incredible joy! is how the Gospel of Saint Luke ends. The apostles return to “In my Father’s house are many rooms,” Christ said in John the Temple – just a good stone’s throw away – and continually 14. “If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare praise and bless God with great joy. a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I Now, really, how joyful could they have been?! The crucified will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am and risen Christ, for Whom they had forsaken everything in life you may be also.” and with Whom they had experienced so much, had virtually What great consolation, comfort, and encouragement are disappeared in a radiant cloud to return to His Father. Is this wrapped in these inspiring words! What hope they bring to our something that would provoke in them “great joy?” hectic and often troubled lives – that not only is Our Lord always How is it, then that virtually every prayer, reading, hymn, and mystically present with us, especially in the sacraments and even mention of the Ascension in the Church relates that the fellowship of His Church, but that His love extends from disciples had such “great joy?” We would think they would have generation to generation, from everlasting to everlasting – that been filled with sadness and despair, alone and abandoned. But there is a room reserved for us in His eternal Kingdom. How no – they’re full of “great joy!” desperately we need such hope in our fallen world! Some 2000 years later, we perhaps sense a bit of sadness at the This is the expectation, the anticipation, the great joy Ascension, don’t we? The past months of pre-Lent, Lent, Holy experienced by Christ’s disciples at the Ascension. But this is Week, and Pascha have been so profound, inspiring, and also characteristic of our expectation, our anticipation, and our rejuvenating for us. How can we bring ourselves to muster great joy in the Church to this day, until Christ’s glorious return! “great joy” at the Ascension, when it seems we now return to a That’s the Spirit to 31

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 3 InInInSitesSitesSites John Parker Evangelization is for every Christian!

od is good!” “All the time!” These words are so common in the cultural and Christian memory of the US South. It is a call and response akin to “Christ is risen!” “Indeed, He is risen!” And this “G call-and-response reminds each of us to reflect on reminds each of us to reflect on God’s goodness and mercy, grace and forgiveness in our lives, and to respond in two ways. The first is to give God thanks for such gifts. The second is to bear witness to such grace and goodness in our thoughts, words, and deeds. The former is prayer and worship. The latter is evangelization.

Have you ever heard someone say, “He who loves what he away from this essay, take this: evangelism is a vocation, an does will never work a day in his life?” For those who love God attitude, a way of looking at and living the Christian life. and wish to honor Him in their daily lives, being a witness to While Scripture is clear in revealing that some individuals Him will be natural, however unnoticed it may be to themselves. have been given a very specific spiritual gift called “evangelist” They simply wish to thank God and to tell others about it. – see Ephesians 4:11 – each and every Christian is called to be This, I believe, we can see in the words of the disciples when a “bearer of the Good News,” and has a specific, personal task Jesus said, “When I was sick, you visited me... when I was to bear witness to God in his or her life. naked you clothed me...,” and they replied, bewildered, “when Hospitality vs. hostility! Evangelization cannot be did we do such things to You?” Of course, we know the answer: reduced to “being nice.” But evangelism does begin with a smile when you did them to “the least of the brethren,” you did them and an outwardly good example of Christian character. A dear to me. monastic friend of mine was told by his spiritual father, “do not The disciples were not looking for an “almsgiving program.” look glum in the daytime. Smile, be joyful, share the love of They simply fed the hungry. Nor were they attempting to God. At night, in the privacy of your cell, you can do your organize a “visitation committee” – it was in their Christian repenting and express you sadness or dismay. This you share nature to visit the shut-in. Herein we find the very essence of with God privately, while His love and mercy and joy you share missions and evangelization: “He who loves God and bears publicly.” These are good words – and if each of us would witness to Him in his daily life will be a missionary without put them into practice, how many souls would find the love of ever thinking about it.” God?! Evangelization is an attitude more than anything else. It is In a parish, evangelization – when “folks are coming to us” – not a “strategy,” although we must have one. It is not a “plan,” starts with philoxenia. “philo” is from the Greek “to love,” while although we must organize our efforts. It is not a “program,” “xenia” is from the Greek word for “stranger.” Hence, philoxenia although lectures and books and how-to-do-its are important. means “the love of strangers” – in English, “hospitality.” Evangelization – or, more simply, evangelism – is an attitude, We must welcome visitors with open arms, smiles, hand- a vocation common to all Christians. If you take nothing else shakes, and gestures of kindness. We must not interrogate

4 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 InInInSites

Photo: John Mindala

visitors and enquirers with “What are you doing here?” or “What and headscarves, especially from those who are drawing do you want?” – questions that are more appropriate from a near to Him for the first time. Whatever our inner traditions are border patrol agent! Rather, we must rephrase such “opening for Christians, let’s reserve those for the cathechumens who are lines” in welcoming ways: “How did you learn about our learning them, and from the Christians who adopt and embrace community?” or simply “Thank you for joining us for worship them. Welcome the stranger in your midst as he or she is. and fellowship this morning.” These statements display an Evangelism also requires longsuffering and patience – things interest in visitors and enquirers, and put them at ease in what that are hardly foreign to Orthodox Chritians. In the first may very well be intimidating territory. instance, God is the Font of longsuffering and patience. It is I recently heard a story about a fellow who moved from our “what He does” endlessly for you and for me. When was the last area to another state. He desperately needs the love of God – time, for example, that you went and confessed your sins to we had been working with him here. I gave him the address of God before the priest, and went away unforgiven? If you a parish in his new place of residence. I called the priest in repented, you have never gone away unforgiven. Why would advance to give him a “heads-up.” Excited to visit his new we treat others any differently? God long-suffers you. He is parish, he arrived well ahead of the service – so much so that the patient with me. He shows mercy on you. He forgives me. church doors were still locked. So he parked his car and sat on Evangelism – the sharing of the Good News – is grounded in the steps of the church. His “welcome” came from the individual thanking God for this, and then sharing the same, exact gift who arrived with the keys, who shouted, “Hey! You can’t park with those whom God has placed in our path. there! What are you doing here?” Would we be surprised had A common union. Evangelism is also found in the he decided not to return? How would you feel with this community aspects of our parishes. Human beings seek meaning welcome? Did it reflect the love of the father of the prodigal and community instinctively. It is the Church comprised of son? Christians, who will be known by “how they love one another” – Nor can we expect Orthodox Christian behavior, dress, and the “common union” upon which community is built. customs from those who are unfamiliar with them. If this Evangelism is rooted in extending the invitation to others to scandalizes you, speak to me: God doesn’t care about dresses Evangelization to 7

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 5 InInInSites a new restaurant or a terrific sale, we tell others about it. In such instances, a type of evangelization takes place. The resurrec- tion of Christ, however, is the greatest news the world has ever known. It is news that, by its very nature, those who call Our common calling themselves by the name of Christ – Christians – must proclaim. When the women disciples first discovered the empty tomb t the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus Christ revealed of Christ, the angel told them two things: That the Lord is Himself as the One of Whom Isaiah spoke, as recorded in risen, and that His resurrection should be publicly announced. A Luke 4:16–21: “And [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where He And when the apostles invited Matthias to take the place of had been brought up; and He went to the synagogue, as His Judas amongst the twelve, their invitation was clear: “Become custom was, on the sabbath day. And He stood up to read; and with us a witness to His resurrection” [Acts 1:22]. there was given to Him the book of the Prophet Isaiah. He opened The invitation extended to Matthias is extended to every the book and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of member of the Body of Christ. Concerning this, Saint Ignatius the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach Good of Antioch wrote, “We are of the fruit of His divinely blessed News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the passion, so that by means of His resurrection He might raise aloft captives and recovering of a banner for His saints and sight to the blind, to set at believers in every age, whether liberty those who are among the Jews or among the oppressed, to proclaim the gentiles, united into a single acceptable year of the Lord.’ body in His Church.” Echoing And He closed the book, and this, Saint Clement of Rome sat down; and the eyes of all in wrote, “After receiving their the synagogue were fixed on instructions and being fully Him. And He began to say to assured by the resurrection of them, ‘Today this scripture has our Lord Jesus Christ, as well been fulfilled in your hearing.’” as confirmed in faith by the Jesus “went on through Word of God, they [the cities and villages, preaching apostles] went forth, equipped and bringing the Good News with the fullness of the Holy of the Kingdom of God” [Luke Spirit, to preach the Good 8:1]. News that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ assumed our God is close at hand.” human nature so that we might Proclaiming the Good “become partakers of the divine News – evangelization – is at nature” [2 Peter 1:4]. He the heart Our Lord’s command accomplishes this by His to “go therefore and make resurrection, that singular disciplies of all nations, victory that makes mankind’s baptizing them in the name resurrection possible by of the Father and of the Son destroying, once and for all, and of the , the wedge sin had driven teaching them to observe all between God and His People. that I have commanded you; This is the Good News Jesus and lo, I am with you always, Christ came to proclaim. to the close of the age” This is the Good news the apostle Peter proclaimed on the [Matthew 28:19,20]. It is not “something Protestants do,” nor day of Pentecost. “Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by is it “the job of the clergy” or a means of increasing parish God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did membership “so we can better meet our expeneses.” To the through Him in your midst... This Jesus, delivered up according contrary, evangelization is the sharing of the Good News of the to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, [was] crucified risen Christ with all who would receive it and the use of our and killed.... But God raised Him up, having loosed the pangs time, talents and treasures for the building up of the Body of of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it.... Christ, the Church. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses. Being In the words of Saint Athanasius the Great, “let us note that therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Church which the from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured Lord gave us was, from the beginning, preached by the out this which you see and hear.... God has made Him both apostles and preserved by the Fathers. On this the Church was Lord and Christ” [Acts 2:22-24, 32,33, 36]. founded.... The Lord sent out the apostles and commanded And this is the Good News the Church, some 2000 years them to make this the foundation of the Church by saying, ‘Go later, continues to proclaim. out and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Sharing good news is second nature to us. When we discover Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

6 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 InInInSites Evangelization from 5 power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall “come and see,” to share our common life – the life of the be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and worship of God, the repentance and forgiveness of sins, and to the end of the earth” [Acts 1:8]. “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, outdoing one another in showing charity, to paraphrase the ends of the earth.” We can take these to be like ever-extending . Do our parish events demonstrate our love for ripples in a pond. Jerusalem: where we are. Judea: the one another? How about our parish council meetings? Coffee surrounding area. Samaria: a long way away. Ends of the earth: hour? Do we break off into cliques and speak only with those a foreign land. Some take it in this way: my city, my state, whom we know? Evangelism involves approaching the person my country, foreign missions. Some indeed are called to go standing alone and saying, “Hello! Welcome!” Evangelism is a long distance to bear witness to Jesus Christ. Some are called saying, “let me introduce you to some of our other parishioners.” to stay at home. Some are called to go and come back. “To Evangelism is “would you join us for lunch?” where?” and “when” are the good questions. “Me?” is not a Some of this does not come easily. And for some, it may question. Every Christian is called to be a witness to Jesus seem constitutionally impossible. It is, however, vital. It is an Christ. The questions are where, how, when? ascetic effort. It takes practice. It requires leaving comfort To be a missionary or evangelist – a witness to zones. Would we want differently for ourselves if we were that Jesus Christ in one place or another – really requires very little. visitor? Would we want to be left by ourselves, staring into a What does it require? cup of coffee alone while others laugh and visit and catch up? 1. To have encountered God. Many of the above principles are common to all facets of 2. To be conforming one’s life to God’s. our lives, but are also specific with regard to “what we should 3. To reflect on God’s work in one’s life. do” when visitors and enquirers cross our threshholds. And 4. To thank God for this regularly, formally, and informally. indeed, God does bless us when He sends folks to us! 5. To share this story, using words when necessary, with “Sent ones.” But more biblically speaking, we are “sent those God sends to us or to whom God sends us. ones” – apostles. Jesus’ Great Commission was not, “Wait in Of course, it will benefit us greatly to know the Scriptures, your Churches and welcome those who show up” – although we the saints, the history of the Church, how Orthodoxy fulfills all cannot neglect this reality. The Great Commission is “Go!” religions, etc. But the personal knowledge of the Saving God Jesus’ last words to His disciples were, “Go therefore and make is the bedrock of one’s evangelistic foundation. disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Two biblical examples come to mind: The woman at the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to well, and the Gerasene demoniac. Jesus drew near to the “half- observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you breed” Samaritan woman and, if that scandal wasn’t enough, always, to the close of the age” [Matthew 28:18ff]. He knew every detail of her life – not to expose or shame her, Where are we to go? To our neighbors. To the store. To but to heal her by pointing her to true life: Himself. She left the office and the town square and the supermarket and the the well “and went away into the city, and said to the people, dormitory and the PTA meeting. Where did the apostles not ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be go?! Every non-Orthodox Christian person on planet Earth the Christ?’” [John 4:28]. The principle here is simple: Go. lacks something in his or her “toolkit for life.” If you and I Tell. Invite. Point to Christ. have been graced with the complete tool-kit, yet we keep it to The Gerasene demoniac had already been consigned to the ourselves, we would do well to re-read the parable of the man unclean existence of living in the land of the dead, chained to who buried his talent in the earth. death, and away from his community. He was completely It is never easy to know what to do with statistics, and it is cleansed from the demons who inhabited him. “And as [Jesus] probably complicated at best to equate “goes to church” with was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed “Christian”, but in the USA (one survey says), 8% of folks with demons begged Him that he might be with Him. But He never go to church. If you are a churchgoer, someone within refused, and said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell 8 houses of your house is not a Christian, statistically. In them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has Canada, the statistic is much higher, where 38% never, or had mercy on you.’ And he went away and began to proclaim almost never, go. If you go to church, one neighbor on either in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and all side of your house does not. God does call some to the men marveled” [Mark 5:18ff]. Go. Tell. Point to Christ! proverbial African jungle. But let’s not overlook Main Street God is good to His People – to the righteous and the USA, Canada, and Mexico. And if we are concerned with the unrighteous, to outcasts, to the sick and suffering, to you and fullness of faith, the chances are that no one else in your to me. Evangelization is proclaiming God’s truth by sharing neighborhood is an Orthodox Christian. In a town of 10,000, how He has worked in our lives, thanking Him, and spreading statistically speaking, there are 100 or less Orthodox Christians. His love to others. Everyone, from the baptized infant to the That means, depending on our strategy, there are up to 9,900 nonagenarian, can thank God for His mercy and bear witness to folks who need Orthodox Christianity – who do not know the this in their lives. This is God’s command. This is our response fullness of Christ. How big is your town? in gratitude and in love. Biblically speaking, we might organize our efforts according to Acts 1. Again just before His Ascension, Jesus instructed His Fr. John Parker is rector of Holy Ascension Church, followers – us! – to go and wait on the coming-and-promised- Mount Pleasant, SC, and chairs the OCA’s Department of Comforter: the Holy Spirit. And He noted, “you shall receive Evangelization.

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 7 OurOurOurTTTimeimeime Jim Forest The Road to Emmaus Pilgrimage as a way of life

ach of the stories perhaps also running about Christ’s resur- from possible personal rection is a challenge danger. It wasn’t at all to the rational part of clear that Jesus’ disciples E ourselves. Dead weren’t next in line for people are dead, period. execution. The two were There is the account not only mourners, but in Saint John’s Gospel of disillusioned mourners. Mary Magdalene’s Jesus had failed to meet encounter with Him near their expectations. The the empty tomb. Until He person they fervently speaks to her by name, believed would become she thinks he must be the the new king of Israel, gardener. Once she heir to David’s throne, realizes Who He is, Jesus not only isn’t ruling Israel, tells her not to touch Him. but is in His grave. The Why? There are many candle of their messianic guesses, but in fact we hopes has been snuffed don’t know. out. His closest followers Though risen from the were in hiding. Their dead, Christ still bears the homeland was still ruled wounds that caused His death. Thomas, the apostle who was by Romans, undergirded by a second tier of well-rewarded the most reluctant to make a leap of faith, becomes the only Jewish collaborators. The Kingdom of God that Jesus had said man to touch the wounds of the risen Christ. Why isn’t Jesus was already present now seemed infinitely distant. fully healed? We don’t know. Conversation would not have been easy. Deep grief is Soon after, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus – a man rarely a talkative condition. The words they hewed out of freed from mortality – joins His friends in eating fish cooked silence were confused, bitter, angry. Their beloved teacher was over an open fire. Why is He Who has become deathless still dead and buried. Everything that mattered had turned to dust. hungry? We don’t know. The world had no center. Life’s axis had crumbled. Death Finally the resurrected Christ ascends into heaven. Where once again had proven itself life’s defining event. Existence would that be? Why didn’t He stay on earth? Why didn’t He had no meaning, no pattern. People of virtue perish while their reveal His resurrection to crowds of people? We don’t know. persecutors feast. How could one speak of a merciful and all- We do know that Christ rose from the dead, and we are powerful God? Ruthless power, corruption, betrayal and the familiar with the stories the Gospel preserves for us of encounters triumph of the grave – this was Good Friday’s bitter message. people had with Him before the ascension, but the mystery of What person old enough to have attended a funeral of a deeply His resurrection is far beyond our intellectual reach. loved person, whose life was cut short in its prime, hasn’t known Perhaps the most accessible of the resurrection a similar rage, numbness and despair? narratives concerns the risen Christ’s short pilgrimage with two Walking side by side, breathing dust, the two friends are joined disciples to Emmaus, a village described as being seven miles – by a stranger who appears without a word of description. He less than a two-hour walk – from Jerusalem. doesn’t impress the two men as being somehow familiar. They Two friends are escaping from a tragedy in Jerusalem, and fail to notice His wounded hands. Without apology, He joins

8 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 OurTTTime their conversation. He wonders why they are so ilgrimage is not getting from point A downcast. They are amazed at the stranger’s ignorance. One of the men, Cleopas, asks the to point B on the map while counting stranger how is it possible that He doesn’t know what has happened in Jerusalem in recent days. Could anyone share the miles. The distances covered are in this particular Passover and be unaware of what happened P incidental. What matters is being on the to Jesus of Nazareth? Only a week earlier, Jesus had entered the city in triumph, joyful crowds putting palms in His path and road to Emmaus – the road of discovering Christ shouting hosannas and calling Him king of Israel. And now the in the Other. Pilgrimage was, and still is, the man Who should have redeemed Israel had been condemned by the high , renounced by the very crowds that had“ cheered great adventure of becoming unblinded. We Him, and sentenced to public execution under the authority of discover it is impossible not to be in the Rome’s agent, Pontius Pilate. Finally, He had been ritually murdered while soldiers threw dice for His clothing. Jesus’ presence of God. God is with us all the time, followers had dared to hope for a miracle, even when Jesus was only we don’t notice. It is a blindness not caused taken away to Golgotha – after all, He had raised Lazarus from death – but the man Who had been able to bring others back to by physical damage but by deeply rooted fears, life proved powerless to save Himself. Yes, the two men had the imprisonment of self-absorption, heard the wild tale told earlier in the day by a few grief-stricken women – angels, an empty tomb, Jesus alive again – but truly, and ideological obsessions. it was an unbelievable tale. The stranger listened patiently. At last He responded, “O it wasn’t only the women who had proclaimed the foolish men, so slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have resurrection. “The Lord has risen indeed,” they were told, spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these “and has appeared to Simon!” things and enter into His glory?” Then, starting with Moses and What happened on the road to Emmaus – and finally in going on to all the prophets, He explained all the scriptural Emmaus itself – was the first Christian pilgrimage. Every texts concerning the Messiah. pilgrimage, whether to a local park or to some distant place at By this time, they had reached the outskirts of Emmaus, the end of a well-trodden pilgrim road thick with miracles, is in apparently the place where the two friends planned to end their its roots a journey to Emmaus, and every pilgrimage is” animated journey or at least spend the night. The stranger appeared to be with a similar hope: to meet the risen Christ along the way. going further, but they were so taken with His authoritative It’s a hope one hardly dares to mention. Yet explanations of the prophecies of scripture that they appealed something like the Emmaus story occurs in many lives. Again to Him to join them for a meal in the local inn. “Stay with us,” and again, we meet strangers along the way who speak with they said, “for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” unexpected clarity about things that really matter. In such Even when they sat down to eat, the stranger was still encounters, do we not find our hearts aflame within us? This is nameless and unrecognized, yet it was He Who presided at the a person we’re in no hurry to part from, whose words and table, taking bread, blessing it, breaking it and giving it to them. presence are water in the desert. The stranger is someone we It’s at this point in Saint Luke’s Gospel that we get one of the would eagerly invite to eat with us, even if we had little money most breathtaking sentences in the New Testament: “And their to spare, someone with whom we are eager to break bread. eyes were opened and they recognized Him” [Luke 24:31]. At the heart of the Emmaus story is the stranger. Had the two Perhaps they recognized Him because, at last, they noticed disciples failed to made room for Him in their journey, the New His wounded hands as He blessed and broke the bread. In their Testament would be missing one of its most illuminating stories. moment of realization, Jesus “vanished from their sight.” Pilgrimage is not possible if it excludes unexpected people Perhaps he actually disappeared – as we have seen in other found along the way. Perhaps it’s only for an hour or a day. resurrection stories, the risen Christ doesn’t seem subject to the A hesitant conversation takes wing. A reluctant tongue rules of physics. Or perhaps He chose that moment to leave the becomes fluent. Finally, we eat together. By now, the stranger table in order to continue his journey, but His departure was has become a named person. Sooner or later we part, but we unseen because the two disciples, weeping with joy, were remember that encounter as a shining moment. We didn’t momentarily blinded by their tears. We don’t know. All we are literally meet Jesus risen from the dead, and yet, in this brief sure of is that the stranger was Jesus and that the two friends communion with a stranger, Jesus became present and traveled finally knew with Whom they had been talking on their way to with us. A chance encounter became a eucharistic event. Ideas Emmaus, and Who it was that blessed the bread and broke it. about Jesus were replaced with an experience of Jesus. They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us The details of such encounters vary infinitely. No two while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the God-revealing encounters are the same. Each of us is unique, scriptures?” and each of us experiences conversion in unique ways, even Forgetting their exhaustion and hunger, the two friends though we recognize something of our own conversion in all reversed their journey, hurrying back to Jerusalem in order to the conversion stories we happen to hear. Conversion means a report what they had witnessed. But by now, they discovered, Emmaus to 29

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 9 TheTheTheOCAOCAOCA

association with the Spanish colonialists. Some of the first laws of the new Mexican Republic were antireligious. In 1917, Church Diocese of Mexico properties were nationalized and many churches were closed. Monasteries were abolished and the communities dispersed, while clergy were required to obtain licenses to function. Several celebrates 40 years! attempts were made to establish an independent “national church.” In 1926, a Roman Catholic priest, with government support, aithful arrived early at Mexico City’s Cathedral of the was made head of the Independent Old of North Ascension on Sunday, January 8, 2012, as His Beatitude, America, and the Mexican National Catholic Church was born. Metropolitan Jonah presided at the marking The community thrived under government patronage and the diocese’s 40th anniversary. extended its jurisdiction to Mexican communities in . The F Concelebrating with Metropolitan Jonah were His Grace, National Church continued as an Old Catholic community until Alejo of Mexico; diocesan clergy from as far as Monterrey Father José Cortes y Olmos was appointed its bishop in 1961. He and Guadalajara; priests from the US who offer assistance to the and his clergy gradually became convinced through their studies diocese, including Archpriest Ernesto Rios of Port St. Lucie, FL that the Old Catholic ecclesiological principles did not conform and Priest Antonio Perdomo of McAllen, TX; a priest of the to the criteria of the One, True, Catholic Church. They came Patriarchate of Moscow; and Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak. to identify with Orthodox Holy Tradition, and adopted the In early April 2012, Metropolitan Jonah returned to Mexico designation “Orthodox,” adopting the name “Iglesia Ortodoxa for a week-long visit to several missions and to ascertain ways of Catolica en Mexicao” – Orthodox Church in Mexico. providing additional assistance to Bishop Alejo in the diocese’s In 1965, Bishop José and his clergy contacted the then-rector mission efforts. Traveling with Metropolitan Jonah was Priest of Saint Seraphim Church in , TX, Father Dmitri Royster, John Parker, chairman of the OCA Department of Evangelization. who had been instrumental in converting many Mexicans to A detailed reflection on their visit, “The Fields are Ripe,” is Orthodoxy and was translating Orthodox liturgical services into available on the OCA web site at http://oca.org/cdn/PDFs/ Spanish. After Father Dimitri’s to the episcopacy evangelization/2012-0405-mexico-evangelization.pdf. in 1969 and the granting of autocephaly the following year, The origin today’s Diocese of Mexico of the Orthodox Church Bishop Dmitri presented the case of the Orthodox Church in in America were may be traced to the early 20th century, Mexico to the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church in America. curiously through a group known as the Mexican National After a number of exchanges and visits, the Holy Synod sent Catholic Church, a body distinct from the nation’s Roman Bishop Dmitri to visit Mexico officially and to report on his Catholic Church. It was during the Revolution that antagonisms findings. This report was studied by the OCA’s Department of against the Roman Catholic Church were aroused by its historic Canonical Affairs, which recommended acceptance of the Mexican communities into the Orthodox Church. In 1971, Bishop José petitioned for the acceptance of his community into the Orthodox Church in America. He and other priests of his community were received in their Roman Catholic ranks, while upwards of 20,000 faithful were also received into the Church. Father José studied at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary prior to his consecration as Bishop of Mexico City, which took place at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, New York, NY, on April 22, 1972. Despite countless obstacles, what had become the Exarchate of Mexico continued to grow through the establishment of additional missions and conversions. After Bishop José’s repose on January 28, 1983, Archbishop Dmitri continued to oversee the life of the Exarchate until 2005, when a successor to Bishop José was found. On May 28 of that year, in services celebrated at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA, Archimandrite Alejo [Pacheco-Vera] was consecrated an auxiliary to Archbishop Dmitri. On October 16, 2008, he was elected ruling bishop of the Mexican Exarchate. Metropolitan Jonah, presided at his installation at Mexico City’s Ascension Cathedral on January 18, 2009. The Exarchate subsequently was granted full diocesan status. Additional information on the Diocese of Mexico may be found on the diocese’s upgraded web site at http://ocamexico.org.

10 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 TheTheOCAOCA Manton, CA, Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Elwood City, PA, and Holy Dormition Monastery in Rives Junction, MI, together with representatives from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, including seminary Dean, Archpriest John Behr, and a number of Bishop Alexander’s former students from the US and Canada. A special guest taking part in the consecration was Bishop Alexander’s brother, Protodeacon George Golitzin, who represented Bishop Alexander’s family. Also in attendance were representatives from the Theology Department of Marquette University. Another special guest at Friday evening’s service was Bishop Leonard Blair, Roman Catholic Bishop of Toledo. A choir including singers from parishes throughout the Bulgarian Diocese and guests from other OCA parishes sang the liturgical responses. During the Liturgy, Bishop Alexander ordained Subdeacon Basil Frenchek to the diaconate. On the evening of Friday, May 4, prior to celebrating Great Vespers, Bishop-elect Alexander made his public acceptance of his election. In his address he stated that, “when standing before the holy altar at the anaphora, the bishop images forth the one and unique High Priest, Christ, Who acts through His celebrant.” He then added that, “while it is true that our Lord Jesus is true God and true King, it is also true that He did not come to us, His creatures, with the pomp and splendor of the King, attended by the legions of heaven, but rather in humility He emptied Himself and was found in the likeness of a servant. “They are very different images, the first set revelatory of the splendor of heaven, and the second of the humility, long- suffering, and charity of our Lord’s life and ministry,” Bishop elect Alexander continued. “My first conclusion is that I must The laying on of hands. Metropolitan Jonah and keep this difference firmly in mind throughout my life as bishop, concelebrating hierarchs consecrate Archimandrite by which I mean the glory of the liturgical iconography should Alexander to the episcopacy. have no place in my office and day-to-day demeanor. My actions, my patterns of speech, my service in short, is to be determined by the example given us by God the Word Himself.” In June 2010, the Bulgarian Diocese initiated a search for a successor to His Eminence, Archbishop Kirill [Yonchev], The Consecration of who headed the diocese from 1964 until his repose in 2007. It was he who brought the diocese into the Orthodox Church in Bishop Alexander America in 1976. Consecration to 26

rchimandrite Alexander [Golitzin] was consecrated to the episcopacy during the Divine Liturgy at Saint George Cathedral, Toledo, OH, on Saturday, May 5, 2012. He was enthroned as Bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese A of the Orthodox Church in America on Sunday, May 6. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, presided at the consecration Divine Liturgy. Concelebrants included His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel; His Grace, Bishop Nikon; His Grace, Bishop Tikhon; His Grace, Bishop Benjamin; His Grace, Bishop Melchisedek, who served as Locum Tenens of the diocese; His Grace, Bishop Michael; His Grace, Bishop Matthias; His Grace, Bishop Irineu; His Grace, Bishop Mark; and His Grace, Bishop Irenee. Joining members of the Bulgarian Diocese were clergy and faithful from sister OCA dioceses, other Toledo-area Orthodox parishes, monastics from Saint John of Shanghai Monastery in

11 TheOCA non-binding vote on three specific recommendations was taken, namely The 16th • that the OCA proceed with implementing the general directions of the Strategic Plan. All-American Council • that the Metropolitan Council form a Post-Conciliar Committee to oversee implementation of that Plan. of the Orthodox Church • that the Metropolitan Council pursue alternate funding sources to support the resulting initiatives. in America Each of these recommendations received an overwhelming The proceedings of the 16th All-American Council were vote of approval from the AAC delegates. highlighted daily on the Orthodox Church in America web Based on that overwhelming vote of approval, the strategic site, together with extensive photo galleries and related planning transitioned into an implementation phase. The draft resources. Strategic Plan was revised to reflect the inputs from the AAC • Approved minutes of the Council are posted on the delegates. OCA web site in PDF format at http://oca.org/PDF/ Subsequently, at their meeting at the Chancery February 22- 16thAAC/16thaac-minutes.pdf. 23, 2012, the members of the Orthodox Church in America’s • Powerpoint presentations used at the Council may Metropolitan Council unanimously approved proceeding with be accessed at http://oca.org/PDF/16thAAC/16thaac- the implementation of the “Strategic Plan for the Orthodox powerpoints.pdf. Church in America: A Comprehensive Action Plan for the Next • Metropolitan Jonah’s address to the Council may be Decade.” [The text of the updated Plan may be accessed in PDF read on-line at http:///oca.org/holy-synod/statements/ format on the OCA web site at http://oca.org/PDF/NEWS/ metropolitan-jonah/address-to-the-16th-all- 2011/2011-1221-strategic-plan-draft-v6.1.pdf. american-council-of-the-orthodox-church. According to Priest John Vitko, who chairs the committee • A list of related resources may be found at http:// charged with implementing the Plan, the Metropolitan oca.org/history-archives/aacs/the-16th-all- Council’s approval is subject to “considering input that might american-council. be submitted by the Metropolitan Council and the Holy Synod over the next month.” Council members “did not commit to any costs at this time, beyond those covered by funds currently allocated for the Strategic Plan in the 2012 budget or those that can be raised from other funding sources. “At the 16th All-American Council, participants in the Off the drawing board Strategic Planning workshops identified promising first steps/ projects for actualizing the goals of the Plan,” Father John said. AAC overwhelmingly approves “Since then, implementation facilitation teams have been working to develop the means to implement the initial projects implementation of Strategic Plan presented for review and approval to the Metropolitan Council at its February 2012 meeting. he draft Strategic Plan for the Orthodox Church in America “These plans define ‘milestones’ indicating what needs to was a major focus of the recent 16th All-American be done, by when, and by whom, along with required Council. Four of the eight plenary sessions focused resources,” Father John continued. “They also identify the roles totally or in part on the Strategic Plan’s elements. The parishes, deaneries, dioceses, and the Central Administration T heart of these activities were two three-hour long will play in implementing specific projects.” workshops focused on each of the 10 top priority goals – with Father John added that “the projects span the development participants having the opportunity to further develop the goals and to identify initial projects that they, the participants, networked together could do to help achieve the goal. The Strategic Planning workshops were very well received and productive. Approximately 400 of the 600 delegates and observers participated in the workshops. Participants were actively engaged, in some cases forgoing breaks to continue working on their goal and projects. Lots of good, new ideas emerged from the workshops, including modifications to the existing draft plan and the identification of over 30 potential initial projects that the participants networked together could accomplish. In fact, more than 150 of the participants signed up to continue working on the implementation of these projects beyond the AAC. In the final strategic planning wrap-up session, an informal,

12 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 TheTheOCAOCA

Financial moves In light of AAC assessment discussion, diocesan chancellors, treasurers urge adoption of “proportional” giving

t a meeting described by one participant as “unprecedented and very frank,” the chancellors and treasurers of eight of the Orthodox Church in America’s dioceses met with His Planning workshops punctuated Strategic Plan Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah; Archpriest John Jillions, presentations at 16th All-American Council. A Chancellor; Archpriest Eric Tosi, Secretary; Melanie Ringa, Treasurer; and Priest Gleb McFatter, chair of the Metropolitan Council Finance Committee, at the Chancery in of training materials to present Orthodox Christianity within mid-January 2012. the context of North America’s varied cultural landscape to “The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and move the identification and production of resource materials for parish forward on the resolution on assessments passed at the 16th priests and lay leaders and the development of social All-American Council in November 2011,” said Father Eric. networking sites to better connect with our young adults.” The resolution, which called for a reduction of the OCA Parts of the Plan, according to Father John, “will be applicable “per capita” assessment to $50.00 – the text may be found in to most parishes. the Council Minutes available on the OCA web site at http:// “For example, struggling parishes might find the projects on oca.org/PDF/16thAAC/16thaac-minutes.pdf – generated evangelization and parish development, leadership and lengthy discussion and debate at the Council. management, and more fully involving youth and young adults After initial remarks by and encouragement from in the life of the parish particularly helpful,” he said. “Different Metropolitan Jonah, Fathers John and Eric and Mrs. Ringa parishes, deaneries and dioceses will be interested in different presented a number of critical concerns, including budgetary portions of the Plan – not only is this alright, but it is how the matters, restructuring, and accountability, and opened Plan is supposed to work. discussion on steps that need to be taken in light of the “With the Metropolitan Council’s approval, we can move Council’s resolutions. on to implementing these projects,” Father John concluded. Offering the chancellors and treasurers an overview of the Implementation plans were presented for several goals/ work of the Church’s ministries, the OCA’s department chairs projects, as listed below. Those interested in becoming part of a outlined current and pending projects and discussed methods team are invited to contact the appropriate facilitator as noted. of interaction and cooperation between their respective • Evangelization and Parish Development: Archpriest John departments and their counterparts on the diocesan level. Reeves – [email protected]. “Each diocesan representative was then given a chance to • Leadership and Management: Archpriest David Lowell – present an overview of his or her diocese’s current ministries, [email protected]. financial status, and concerns,” Father Eric said. “They also • Revitalizing Diocesan Relations: Mrs. Donna Karabin – shared the challenges they face and major issues in parishes. [email protected]. “In the process of reviewing a number of possible methods for • Inter-Orthodox Relations: Matushka Wendy Cwiklinski – securing an appropriate level of funding for the Church, it was [email protected]. clear that, while maintaining the work of the Central Church • Contemporary Issues: Priest Caleb Abetti –abetti@gmail. administration is critical, equally critical is the need to lighten com. the financial burdens being faced on the diocesan and parish • Continuing Education: Archpriest Ian Pac-Urar – pacurar@ levels,” Father Eric continued. “A frank discussion was held on zips.uakron.edu. per capita assessment methods and the move toward proportional • Youth and Young Adults: Priest Christopher Rowe – frchris@ giving on the parish and diocesan levels. att.net. “It was clearly noted that the process will require creativity, The goals on Funding and Theological Education were especially in light of each diocese’s unique circumstances and moved to the Financial Committee and the Board of history,” Father Eric added. “While it is obvious that some Theological Education, respectively, for implementation. dioceses will take longer than others in embracing proportional The presentations given at the Metropolitan Council giving, the chancellors and treasurers are committed to meeting are available in PDF format on the OCA web site at reforming the assessment methodology over the next triennium http://oca.org/PDF/NEWS/2012/2012-0228-pocc- and will continue their work together.” powerpoints.pdf. Finances to 14

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 13 TheOCA

Finances from 13 Synopsis: Holy Synod fall, Proportional giving spring sessions A statement issued at the conclusion of the His Beatitude, personnel issues Eminence, the late two-day meeting reads in part that “the OCA Metropolitan Jonah, under consideration Archbishop Dmitri Central Administration is currently doing a chaired the fall and the new OCA on the 40th day of his commendable job with the current resources. session of the Holy web site. repose. Past financial difficulties are still being paid Synod of of • Melanie Ringa, The hierarchs then for and have a significant impact on the budget. the Orthodox Church in OCA Treasurer, • reviewed a number The All-American Council resolution on America October 4-6, offered a thorough of clergy cases in proportionally reducing the assessment in the 2011, during which review of 2011 executive session. next triennium still referenced a per capita • Archimandrite finances to date and • gave their blessing approach to decreasing the Central Church Alexander [Golitzin] the 2010 external for distribution of Assessment. Moving away from a per capita was elected Bishop of audit and presented Guidelines for Clergy assessment will be a challenge for some Toledo and Bulgarian the 2012 Budget. Use of Online Social dioceses.” Diocese. [See related There was extensive Networking, the text Acknowledging that “the current system of story on page 11.] discussion on the final of which is found on the revenue is dysfunctional and will not support • His Grace, Bishop issues of the audit OCA web site at http: the OCA in the future,” the statement presents Melchisedek, Acting and an in-depth //oca.org/holy-synod pending actions. Chancellor, spoke of discusssion of /statements/holy- “The OCA Treasurer will refine the 2013 the ongoing work of the proposed 2012 budget synod/guidelines- assessment formula based on diocesan projections Chancery, reported on recommendations for-clergy-use-of- to reduce the assessments and introduce the work of the Sexual received from the online-social- proportional giving. Dioceses will pursue Misconduct Policy Metropolitan Council. networking. collecting parish financial data for their own use. Advisory Committee • a final report on the • approved the The Diocese of the West and the Diocese of the [SMPAC], and 16th All-American Service for South will make proposals as to the percentage addressed a variety of Council and the Consolation of of their budgets they will contribute to the OCA pastoral issues. Preconciliar Families of Suicides to fund the OCA at the current dollar level for • SMPAC members Commission was for distribution. 2013.” The statement notes that these dioceses Archpriest Michael given. The agenda and • reaffirmed the 1992 “do a form of percentage giving from the Matsko, Proto- other issues were Synodal Affirmations parishes to support the dioceses. One diocese deacon Peter discussed. on Marriage, Family, does not do a per capita count to determine the Danilchick, Dr. Nikita • Mr. Wojcik reported Sexuality and the dollar amount to send to the OCA.” Eike, and Thaddeus on various legal Sanctity of Life. The statement concludes with participatants Wojcik, Esq., OCA matters in an • received an update expressing their “hope that any funds returned General Counsel, executive session. from the Synodal from the Central Church Assessment to the provided an update on • the hierarchs Investigation dioceses by lowering the assessment will be policy revisions, announced the Commission and invested by each diocese in its parishes and which will be reworked appointment of a blessed its ongoing missions to promote growth.” for approval. new Chancellor, work. [The text of the statement may be read at http: • Archpriest Leonid whose name will be • heard the report //oca.org/PDF/NEWS/2012/2012-0119-finance- Kishkovsky offered a released pending the of the Board of statement.pdf.] detailed report on candidate’s Theological Attending the meeting were Archpriest John External Affairs, acceptance of the Education. The Kowalczyk and Priest Raymond Browne, inter-Church position. The Holy hierarchs approved Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania; Archpriest John relations, and other Synod received the psychological testing Zdinak, Diocese of the Midwest; John Skrobat, issues for future nomination from the for all candidates for Diocese of New England; Archpriest Joseph consideration. Metropolian Council, ordination, clarified Lickwar and Matushka Mary Buletza-Breton, • Archpriest Eric accepting and ordination procedures, Diocese of New York and New Jersey; Archpriest Tosi, OCA Secretary, approving him as the and blessed the Marcus Burch and Milos Konjevich, Diocese of reported on an array candidate. Board’s ongoing work the South; Archpriest Gregory Safchuk and of administrative After the in drafting a formal Michael Hydock, Archdiocese of Washington, matters, including the celebration of the policy document. DC; Archpriest Ian MacKinnon and Mary Caetta, work of the Church’s Divine Liturgy on Metropolitan Diocese of the West; and Archpriests Paul Ziatyk committees, boards October 6, the Jonah also chaired the and Dennis Hendershot, Diocese of Western and commissions. hierarchs offered spring session of the Pennsylvania. He also reported on prayers for His Holy Synod at the

14 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 TheOCA Monastery of the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God, Rives Junction, MI, May 7-10, 2012. The hierarchs participated in the monastery’s daily services, including the Divine Liturgy, which provided an essential spiritual context to their work. They also visited the Ascension of the Lord Monas- Members of the Holy Synod of Bishops during an informal moment at The Vatra. tery, Clinton, MI, and the Vatra, the head- Melanie Ringa, also recommended grass roots level and politan Jonah, quarters of the OCA’s Treasurer, noted that a that any Bishop who fielding questions diocesan bishops with Romanian Episcopate, surplus was realized at does not have direct ranging from organiza- five years’ tenure will be Grass Lake, MI. the end of the first access to the services tional concerns to the elevated to the dignity In his address to quarter of 2012. She offered at the endorsement of of Archbishop. Hence, his fellow hierarchs, also reported that, with seminaries should Orthodox military His Grace, Bishop Metropolitan Jonah the approval of the retain the services of chaplains. Counsel Nikon; His Grace, offered a detailed Metropolitan Council, local psychologists. Thaddeus Wojcik Bishop Tikhon; His overview of his a bequest was used to Each Bishop is also offered comments on Grace, Bishop activities and pay down the Hones- encouraged to solicit the Assembly’s articles Benjamin; and His ministries. The Holy dale National Bank mental health of incorporation and Grace, Bishop Alejo Synod also approved loan. Further, she professionals to assist by-laws. were congratulated on his travel schedule as updated the hierarchs in interpreting results. • The hierarchs their elevations. presented. with regard to an It was further decided reaffirmed their • The hierarchs Highlights of the estate that had been that the OCA Clergy previous decision that formally noted that May session include the left to the OCA. Guidelines and non-Chalcedonian 6, 2012 marked the following. • Father Leonid Policies, Standards Christians are received 10th anniversary of • Father John Kishkovsky reported and Procedures for into the Church through the repose of Bishop Jillions, Chancellor, on recent develop- Sexual Misconduct the sacraments of Innocent [Gula]. May spoke of the good ments in the Orthodox be translated into Confession and his memory be eternal! working relationship world. Spanish, Russian and Communion. However, • Each diocesan he maintains with • His Grace, French. should they later return hierarch offered a report Metropolitan Jonah, Bishop Alexander • The hierarchs to their own Church, on the life of his and cited the was named chair of reaffirmed their earlier they no longer would respective diocese. In professionalism of the the Department of decision to discourage be admitted to closed sessions, the other officers and External Affairs, while OCA clergy from being communion in the hierarchs addressed a members of Chancery His Eminence, Arch- placed “on loan” to Orthodox Church. number of legal and staffers. He then bishop Nathaniel other jurisdictions, • The hierarchs related matters. summarized the work was named chair of the especially in long-term reaffirmed that The members of the of a number of Canonical and cases. antimensia should Holy Synod expressed committees and Canonization • Protodeacon contain relics of their deep gratitude updated the hierarchs Commissions. Peter Danilchick and martyrs, although to Archbishop on a number of other • The Holy Synod Eric Namee of the relics of Confessors Nathaniel; His current issues. reaffirmed that all Secretariat of the are acceptable. Grace, Bishop Father Eric Tosi, candidates for Assembly of Canoni- Antimensia may be Ireneu; Abbess Secretary, updated the ordination and cal Orthodox replaced by a new Gabriella and the hierarchs on staff clergy wishing to Bishops in North and bishop, who may also nuns of Holy Dormition changes, developing transfer into the OCA Cental America, update them by Monastery; the monks job descriptions for must undergo offered a presentation placing his signature of Holy Ascension department chairs, and the approved battery on the Assembly’s under that of the Monastery; and the the Orthodox Health of psychological work, emphasizing the previous bishop. Vatra staff for their Plan. evaluations. They importance of inter- • In response to a hospitality in hosting • In a detailed report, Orthodox efforts on the proposal of Metro- the hierarchs’ visits.

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 15 TheOCA the Institute’s founder, Fr. John Jillions Chancellor completes who has served as an advisor to the US named Chancellor course on dealing with Department of Justice clergy abuse and the US Depart- n Friday, October 21, 2011, Archpriest Eric ment of Defense. She G. Tosi, Secretary of the Orthodox Church Archpriest John Father John added. edited The Journal on in America, announced that Archpriest Jillions, Chancellor of “The Metropolitan Religion and Abuse John A. Jillions had accepted the position the Orthodox Church in Council has taken the from 2000 until 2008. Oof Chancellor. America, completed a bold step of setting Joining her was M. L. Selected from a slate of several applicants, course, “Leadership aside additional funds Daniel, who holds Father John was confirmed by the Holy Synod of Training: Responding to hire professionals to degrees in law and Bishops upon the recommendation of the to Clergy Misconduct,” investigate allegations theology and who, as Metropolitan Council at their fall 2011 sessions. in San Diego, CA and coordinate the a practicing lawyer of A life-long member of the OCA, Father John March 18-20, 2012. OCA’s response and 20 years, has vast was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1955. The course was training efforts.” experience working He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics offered by the Faith The course was with faith communities from McGill University. In 1980, he received the Trust Institute, which facilitated by the Rev. and as a prosecuting Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vladimir’s has been addressing Dr. Marie M. Fortune, attorney. Seminary, Crestwood, NY, from which he also sexual and domestic received the Doctor of Ministry degree in 2005. violence and clergy In 2002, he received a Ph.D. in New Testament abuse since the late Metropolitan Jonah from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. 1970s. Based at After ordination to the diaconate and priest- Seattle’s University of consecrates Holy Chrism hood in 1981 and 1984 respectively, he served Washington, the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, New York, NY; For the first time since his election as OCA Institute provides Annunciation Church, Brisbane, Australia; Holy Primate, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah training, consultation Trinity Church, Rahway, NJ; Saint George presided at the consecration of Holy Chrism at and resources. Church, Thessaloniki, Greece; and Saint Ephraim Saint Tikhon Monastery, South Canaan, PA “All churches are the Syrian Church, Cambridge, UK, before during Holy Week 2012. having to face the returning to Canada in 2003. He was a founding Preparation of the Chrism – a mixture of challenge of dealing director of the Institute for Orthodox Christian dozens of oils, herbs, and fragrances – began with clergy sexual Studies in Cambridge and served as its first on Holy Monday morning, April 9, with the final misconduct, and the Principal from 1999 until 2002. Previously, he consecration rites celebrated during the OCA is no exception,” served as administrator of Saints Cosmas and Vesperal Liturgy on Holy Thursday. In the said Father John, who Damian Adult Home, Staten Island, NY. In the interim, clergy stirred the Chrism and read is responsible for the early 1990s, he served briefly as a Chaplain Scripture around the clock. OCA’s Office of Review (Captain) in the US Air Force Reserve. Concelebrating were His Grace, Bishop of Sexual Misconduct Since 2003, Father John served as an [now Archbishop] Tikhon of Philadelphia and Allegations. “We are Associate Professor with the Sheptytsky Institute Eastern Pennsylvania and His Grace, Bishop committed to address- of Eastern Christian Studies at Ottawa’s Saint Paul Michael of New York and New Jersey. ing this at every level University, where he taught in the areas of 20th A photo gallery of the consecration may be of Church life through century Orthodox Christian thought, New viewed on the OCA web site at http://oca.org/ training, prevention, Testament, , and practical theology. media/photos/metropolitan-jonah-presides-at- and creating an Concurrently, he served as Dean of Ottawa’s the-consecration-of-holy-chrism. environment in which Annunciation Cathedral until 2009, at which time victims can come he was attached to the cathedral while serving forward knowing that “on loan” to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of their complaints will be Toronto. He also has been a contributor to the taken seriously and “Ask the Religion Experts” column of The be thoroughly Ottawa Citizen, and served as a vice-president investigated. of the Canadian Council of Churches. “At the February He and his wife, Denise Melligon, have three 2012 Lesser Synod grown sons – Andrew [Alice], Alex [Meaghan], and Metropolitan and Anthony. Council meetings, As the fifth Chancellor of the OCA since the much of the time was granting of autocephaly in 1970, Father John spent on addressing succeeds Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, who misconduct issues,” returned to parish ministry.

16 TheOCA A Spirit of “Sobornost” An interview with Archpriest John Jillions, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America

ince assuming duties as a surprise to now be there everyday. Chancellor of the Orthodox Your resume is diverse – Church in America in October degrees from McGill, Saint 2011, Archpriest John Jillions Vladimir’s, and Aristotle has had to wear many hats as a University; priest, chaplain, new chapter in the life of the dean; founder of Cambridge’s S Church begins to unfold. Orthodox Institute and Recently, Father John was asked to professor; administrator. How reflect on his experience to date. do you hope to draw from this Tell us about your first few background in your new months as Chancellor. What position? has surprised or challenged I have to say that the role of or delighted you so far? Chancellor is calling upon every single I’ve been surprised by how much I bit of that education and experience, enjoy the job, being part of a team, and a lot more! It is by far the most working with good people at every level. challenging job I’ve ever had. But by There is a collaborative, good-humored spirit of “sobornost.” God’s grace, the diversity of the job fits well with the diversity I’ve worked closely with His Beatitude and the Holy Synod of my life, and so I feel quite at home swimming in a variety of Bishops, the Metropolitan Council, and with the officers and of waters. And as Bishop Benjamin told me recently, the staff of the Chancery and the seminary boards. I have worked Chancellor is meant to be a kind of grease, helping the various intensively with the General Counsel and the Legal Committee, parts of the Church function well together. That’s a fairly humble the Crisis Management Committee, and the Sexual Misconduct form of labor that should go largely unseen if the machine is Policy Advisory Committee. I want to build a good working working properly. But it helps to be comfortable in many relationship with diocesan leaders, and I was very happy to different pastoral, administrative, educational, inter-church and attend the Assemblies of the Dioceses of the South and West. I ecumenical environments. I will be especially grateful if my also have met with the West’s Diocesan Council in San experience of both Russian and Greek Church life can help with Francisco and with the diocesan chancellors and treasurers – the OCA’s contribution to forming a united Orthodox Church a first – that overlapped with a meeting of the OCA’s department in North America. chairpersons. We have so many excellent people committed It’s generally acknowledged that the OCA has to working voluntarily for the Church, giving of themselves. had its share of challenges in recent years, yet And that is inspiring and motivating. every cloud has its silver lining. Describe the To be completely honest, however, I’ve also been surprised chief obstacles and opportunities you see by how much attention has to be given to a very small handful in the next chapter of the OCA’s history. of cases of alleged clergy misconduct. Much of this remains The “silver lining,” in my opinion, is that the OCA has confidential, as it should, and does not at all reflect the full life learned to live its life collaboratively. It has been forced to of the OCA. But this is obviously a disturbing crucial area, and discover what it means in practice to be both hierarchical and we will need to be doing much more in terms of training of sobornal. And so there is a healthy working relationship that is seminarians, clergy, parishes and diocesan leaders. being hammered out at every level: between the Metropolitan But back to “delight.” I love going into Saint Sergius Chapel and the bishops, the bishops and Metropolitan Council, the at the Chancery, surrounded by the relics of the saints of North Central Church and the dioceses, the dioceses and parishes. America, Saint Seraphim and Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr. Part of this process has been the painful and public facing of For now, the Chancery remains in Syosset (whether it stays here internal issues. But this is a badge of honor. One of my friends, or moves in the future will be an administrative decision that an Eastern Catholic, followed broadcasts of the recent All- needs to be taken carefully and rationally), but the chapel is a American Council and told me he was in awe of our process, jewel and has been important in the life of my own family. It’s “discussing these issues about the functioning and future of the where I began my priesthood, inasmuch as Metropolitan Church with such candor, not just to your fellow delegates, but Theodosius served a molieben when I was being sent off to serve with the entire world listening.... I know of no other apostolic a parish in Australia with my wife Denise and infant son Andrew. Church, Catholic or Orthodox, that comes within a thousand It’s where my late sister Alla Wheeler and her family went to miles of having this kind of frank and open discussion.” We church, where she was anointed, and celebrated her last Pascha in need to hold on to this and embrace it, not be embarrassed by it. this life. It’s where I baptized two nephews. It’s a privilege and Chancellor to 31

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 17 TheOCA

St. Vladimir’s Seminary Commencement St. Tikhon’s Seminary Commencement

“Go forth” His Grace, Bishop John of Worcester and New England of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, gave a moving commencement address on human nature and the Commencement at OCA seminaries freedom of mankind to embody – or reject – Godly principles. Fourteen graduates received Masters of Divinity degrees, he Orthodox Church in America’s three seminaries – while Certificates in Diaconal Formation were awarded to 11 Saint Vladimir’s, Crestwood, NY; Saint Tikhon’s, South individuals. Class valedictorian was Andrew Temple. Canaan, PA; and Saint Herman’s, Kodiak, AK – held Also present were Archbishop Tikhon and Bishop Michael; commencement exercises at the end of May. His Eminence, Metropolitan Nikolaos of the North American T Twenty-two graduates of Saint Vladimir’s Diocese of the Syrian Malankara Orthodox Church; and Archpriest Seminary were honored at ceremonies May 19. Two Masters of Dr. Alexander Atty, dean. Theology, 16 Masters of Divinity, and four Masters of Arts Following commencement exercises, the graduates were degrees were conferred. Thirteen graduates represented the OCA. feted at a traditional dinner held in their honor at Saint Michael His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, the seminary’s President Center, East Jermyn, PA. and Chair of its Board of Trustees, conferred degrees upon the On Sunday, May 27, Priest Michael Nicolai and Deacon graduates. In his closing remarks, he encouraged the graduates to Andrew Wasillie were honored at commencement exercises at “bear the Good News with joy,” to “practice asceticism with a Saint Herman’s Seminary, Kodiak, AK. smile,” and to “remember always to bear the responsibility for His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin presented the graduates building up the Church and the seminary.” with Diplomas in Orthodox Theological Studies and certificates His Grace, Bishop Alexander [Golitzin], newly consecrated from the Kodiak Area Native Association for their field work in Bishop of Toledo and the OCA’s Bulgarian Diocese, a seminary substance abuse counselling. In addition, Archbishop Benjamin alumnus and former adjunct faculty member, delivered the awarded Reader’s Certificates to five additional individuals. commencement address, in which he distinguished between the Archpriest Stephan Heckman, dean of the Yukon Deanery sacramental and royal priesthoods. He added that an ordained and rector of Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, Pilot Station, clergyman has the “peculiar” role to “occupy the place of the AK, delivered the commencement address. His words concerning High Priest [Jesus Christ]... and to offer himself up and give parish ministry and service to God’s people in Alaska were both himself back to his people, his flock, as food and drink.” eloquent and heartfelt. Class valedictorian was Igumen Gerasim [Eliel], while Mary Ann Khoury of “Outreach Alaska,” who for many second-year seminarian Harrison Basil Russin was salutatorian. years has coordinated support for the seminary and other projects Also present were His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia in the Diocese, presented gifts to the graduates from their and Eastern Pennsylvania; His Grace, Bishop Michael of New sponsoring churches. York and New York and New Jersey; and His Eminence, Archbishop Mor Titus Teldho, Patriarchal Vicar of the Malankara St. Herman’s Seminary Commencement Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America. One week later, on Saturday, May 26, Saint Tikhon’s Seminary held its 70th annual commencement exercises. Metropolitan Jonah presided at the opening Divine Liturgy in the monastery church, during which Deacon Benjamin Huggins was ordained to the priesthood and Brother Konstantin [Kasovac], Class of 2012, was ordained to the diaconate. Leading the graduation procession was the miraculous myrrh- streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God from Hawaii, which was present throughout the monastery pilgrimage that weekend.

18 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 InInInMemoriam Priest Raymond J. Samoila North Canton, OH – Priest Raymond J. Samoila, 97, InInMemoriamMemoriam fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, May 18, 2012. InInInMemoriamMemoriam Father Raymond was born on January 30, 1915, in Newark, OH, the in Ottawa, Canada, where he worked at the University of Ottawa, son of Joseph and Paraschiva [Mihu] Samoila. A graduate of Alba Iulia and later with Federal Government’s Department of Indian Affairs. High School in Romania, he attended the University of King Carol I in The Somows were members of Ottawa’s Holy Trinity Sobor. In Bucharest. He also attended Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, 1974, he was ordained to the diaconate. Later that year, he was before graduating from Cleveland’s Case-Western Reserve University with transferred by the Federal Government to Vancouver, BC, and attached a degree in Criminal Investigation. to Holy Resurrection Church. In 1989, he was elevated to the rank of For many years, Father Raymond served as parish priest of Saint Nicho- Protodeacon. In 1992, he was ordained to the priesthood. The las Church, Alliance, OH and Saint Elias Church, Ellwood City, PA. following year, he was appointed interim rector of Holy Resurrection He was preceeded in death by his loving wife of 71 years, Preoteasa Church. Confirmed rector in 1994, he sered the parish until his Mary [Cristia]. Survivors include two sons; three granddaughters; four retirement in 1999. In 2005, he was elevated to the rank of Archpriest. great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were celebrated at Holy Resurrection Sobor. Funeral services were celebrated at Saint George Church, Canton, May Father Andrey’s memory be eternal! OH, followed by interment in North Lawn Cemetery. May Father Raymond’s memory be eternal! Matushka Lubova Oskolkoff Deacon John Zarras Anchorage, AK – Matushka Lubova Oskolkoff, 71, fell asleep in the Lord on March 15, 2012 at the Alaska Native Medical Center here. Sherman, CT – Deacon John Zarras, 72, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday Born Donna Lee Gregorieff in Elemar, AK on June 29, 1940, she afternoon, April 1, 2012, after waging a valiant battle against carcinoid/ was raised primarily by her grandparents Elizabeth and Philip Borodkin neuroendocrine cancer. and her sister Sylvia Allen in Tatitlek Village, AK. She is remembered Born in Brooklyn, NY September 1, 1939, son of the late Constantine as being “the Best Sunday School Teacher.” In 1962, she married her and Mary [Nanos] Zarras, he received engineering degrees from Pratt husband of 49 years, the late Archpriest Simeon Oskolkoff. Institute and New York University. In November 2000, he retired as Vice- Matushka Lubova was widely known for the love she displayed to President of North America from Emery Worldwide. her children and her extended family across Alaska. She was a quiet Deacon John was well known for his devotion to the Church on the but strong Native leader. Having faced her family’s health issues, as parish, regional, and national levels. He served as a Church School teacher, well as her own, she made a point of visiting Elders, those in the parish council member, and choir member at Saint Paraskevi Greek hospital, and in nursing homes. She was always ready to help people Orthodox Church, Greenlawn, NY; Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, through their difficult circumstances by listening. She didn’t preach, Bridgeport, CT; Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Indianapolis, IN; but always offered words of comfort or had a shoulder to lean on. and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Dayton, OH. In 1997, he She is survived by two children and two sisters, in addition to the became a member of Christ the Savior Church [OCA], Southbury, CT, many of the loved ones she and Father Simeon had the pleasure to serve. where he served after his ordination to the diaconate on February 2, 2003. Funeral services were held at Saint Innocent Cathedral, Anchorage, Deacon John received a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Vladimir’s and Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord Church, Ninilchik. Seminary, Crestwood, NY, in 2006. He served as President of the Saint May Matushka Lubova’s memory be eternal! Vladimir’s Theological Foundation and as a member of the school’s Board of Trustees. In 1998, he chaired the seminary’s Strategic Planning Matushka Ruth Kuchta Steering Committee. From 2006 until 2011, he was a member of the Metropolitan Council of the Orthodox Church in America. He was a key Joliet, IL – Matushka Ruth Kuchta, 77, fell asleep in the Lord at home member of the OCA’s Reorganization Task Force. He also served as a on March 4, 2012, surrounded by her family, after a lengthy illness. representative to the Fellowship of Orthodox Churches of Connecticut. She was the beloved wife of Archpriest John Elias Kuchta, retired Deacon John is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Evangeline; long-time rector of Saint Nicholas Church here. four children; and 11 grandchildren. Matushka Ruth was secretary at the Joliet Junior College Library Funeral services were celebrated at Christ the Savior Church, for 35 years prior to her retirement. She also was an officer of the Southbury, CT, with interment at Saint John Cemetery, Monroe. Saint Nicholas Ladies’ Aid and Altar Circle, a Sunday School teacher, May Deacon John’s memory be eternal! and a member of the Saint Nicholas Church Choir. In addition to her beloved husband of 56 years, Father John, she is Archpriest Andrey Somow survived by three children, Archpriest Alexander [Natalie] Kuchta, Rebecca [Gregory] Grabavoy, and Charissa Holwey; seven grandchil- Vancouver, BC, Canada – Archpriest Andrey Somow, 89, retired dren; one sister and two brothers; and numerous nieces and nephews. rector of Holy Resurrection Sobor here, fell asleep in the Lord on Funeral services were celebrated at Saint Nicholas Church, Joliet, March 28, 2012. with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery. He was born in 1923 in Constantinople, to which his parents, Ivan May Matushka Ruth’s memory be eternal! Y. Musatov, a lieutenant in the White Army, and the former Tatiana Bourda, had fled after their evacuation with Denikin’s army from Matushka Natalie Breyan Crimea in 1920. He was raised in France and Czechoslovakia and was adopted by his stepfather Pavel Somow. Spring Hill, FL – Matushka Natalie Breyan, wife of the late Archpriest He studied engineering, architecture and town planning at the George Breyan, fell asleep in the Lord here on February 28, 2012. Technical University in Bratislava. With the establishment of the The daughter of the late Archpriest Theodosius and Matushka communist regime in Czechoslovakia, his aspirations to ministry were Eugenia Kiryluk, she and her husband served parishes in Manville, NJ; postponed, and he pursued a career in architecture. Hollywood, FL; Lakewood, OH; Marblehead, OH; and Detroit, MI. In 1968, he and his family were granted political asylum in Austria. After Father George’s retirement in 1999, they served Saint Raphael of As refugees, they were granted “landed immigrant” status and settled In Memoriam to 20

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 19 InInInMemoriam spent in McKeesport, PA, where he was from 19 active in the life of the parish to which his Brooklyn Mission, Inverness, FL, where they were instrumental in father had been assigned. At the age of 17, he erecting a church building. At the time of her repose, she was a member entered the US Navy during the later stages of Saint Andrew Church, New Port Richie, FL. The Breyans celebrated of World War II, serving throughout the their 50th anniversary in 2008. Pacific. In September 1948, he enrolled in Matushka Natalie was a long-time member of the Federated Russian Saint Tikhon’s Seminary. Orthodox Clubs/Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America. For On August 5, 1951, he married the former 27 years, she served as associate editor of the Orthodox Christian Marie Gambal of Old Forge, PA. Having Fr. Joseph Kreta Journal and as editor of the FROC/FOCA’s widely distributed completed his seminary studies, he cookbook. Her other writings appeared in a variety of publications. petitioned to be ordained, hoping to serve a small parish in Juneau, AK. In addition to Father George and her parents, she was preceded in On May 30, 1952, he was ordained to the diaconate; the following day, death by her brother, Archpriest Nicholas Kiryluk, who is widely he was ordained to the priesthood at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, remembered as the first Orthodox Christian US Air Force chaplain. New York, NY, to which he was assigned to celebrate the English Funeral services and interment were celebrated at Saint Tikhon of language services at Saint Innocent Chapel. During this time, Father Zadonsk Monastery Church, South Canaan, PA. Joseph and Matushka Marie became the parents of their first son, Peter. May Matushka Natalie’s memory be eternal! Four years later, they became parents of twins, John and Stephen. Shortly thereafter, Father Joseph was given a blessing to establish Matushka Jeanne M. Homik Saint John Chrysostom Mission, Queens, NY. After meeting for several years in a rented storefront, , the parishioners built a church Perrysburg, OH – Matushka Jeanne M. [Timm] Homik, 78, wife of the building and distinguished themselves as the east coast’s first English late Protodeacon Peter Homik, fell asleep in the Lord February 12, 2012. language parish. Three years later, Father Joseph and Matushka Marie Born in Cleveland, she graduated from the Fairview Park School of became the parents of a daughter, Maria. Nursing and was employed as a registered nurse for over 55 years. In 1971, he traveled to Alaska to determine the situation of the “Mother She and her husband were married in 1969 at Saint Theodosius Diocese” of the Church in North America, which had been experiencing Cathedral, Cleveland, where she was a life-long member. She was severe financial difficulties. The following year, the Holy Synod of active in the Cathedral R Club, FOCA Chapter 7, and a member of Bishops assigned him as temporary administrator of the Diocese of Alaska Saint Mary’s Altar Society. After her husband’s ordination to the and rector of Sitka’s historic Archangel Michael Cathedral. What was diaconate in 1997, she engaged in a variety of parish ministries. to have been a one year assignment lasted for three decades. At the time, She is survived by three sons, two grandchildren, and one brother. there were only a dozen or so priests in Alaska, serving nearly 100 Funeral services were celebrated at Saint Theodosius Cathedral, far-flung parishes, some of which had not seen a priest in many years. followed by interment at Saint Theodosius Cemetery. The following year, Father Joseph and his family moved to Kenai, May Matushka Jeanne’s memory be eternal! where he was instrumental in establishing Saint Herman’s Pastoral School. As the school’s founding dean, he was instrumental in training Archpriest Theodore Soroka over 65 priests, deacons, readers, and Church School teachers to serve the faithful of Alaska. At the time of his retirement, Saint Herman’s Miami, FL – Archpriest Theodore Soroka, 89, fell asleep in the Lord offered a four-year program leading to an accredited Bachelor’s Degree February 8, 2012. in Sacred Theology. Born on September 22, 1922 in Belle Vernon, PA, a son of In 1973, His Grace, Bishop Gregory [Afonsky] was assigned to Theodore and Irene Pawlack Soroka, he was a graduate of Saint oversee the Diocese of Alaska. He appointed Father Joseph to serve as Tikhon’s Seminary. On July 21, 1957, he married the former Sophia diocesan chancellor. The same year, he was assigned rector of Kodiak Hubiak, daughter of Archpriest Afanasy and Susan Wanchisen Hubiak. Island’s Holy Resurrection Church. Eventually, the Saint Herman’s He was ordained to the diaconate by His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri Seminary was relocated to Kodiak, and Father Joseph quickly worked [Magan] on August 31, 1957, and to the priesthood the following day. to erect buildings for student housing, classrooms, a refectory, and a From 1957 until 1965, he served Saint John the Baptist Church, small chapel. Black Lick, PA; Saint John Chrysostom Church, Grand Rapids, MI; During Father Joseph’s tenure as seminary dean, the Saint Innocent and Holy Transfiguration Church, Steubenville, OH. In 1964, he was Veniaminov Research Institute was established to preserve the rich his- assigned pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Miami, FL, which he tory of the Alaskan Church. And, in 1993, Saint Herman’s Chapel was served until his retirement in 1995. In retirement, he remained attached built as a replica of the original church erected in 1795 – one year after the to Saints Peter and Paul Church. arrival of Saint Herman and his seven missionary companions. In addition to his beloved wife, Matushka Sophia, he is survived by In an effort to ascertain the exact number of churches in the state, five sisters and several nieces and nephews. Archbishop Gregory and Father Joseph visited and documented each Funeral services were celebratead at Saints Peter and Paul Church, parish they could find – and in at least one case, they discovered one Miami, and Holy Resurrection Church, Belle Vernon, PA, with church only because they spotted it from the airplane in which they interment at Belle Vernon Cemetery. were traveling en route to an even more remote village! Through their May Father Theodore’s memory be eternal! efforts, 51 churches were nominated to – and 29 were soon listed in – Protopresbyter Joseph Kreta the National Register of Historical Landmarks. Father Joseph received numerous awards and commendations, Mesa, AZ – Protopresbyter Joseph P. Kreta, 84, fell asleep in the Lord including the Alaska Governor’s Award in 1982 and the Alaska February 2, 2012, surrounded by his beloved wife, Matushka Marie, and Historic Society’s Evangeline Atwood Award in 1994. He also the members of his family. received numerous ecclesiastical awards. In 1990, the Holy Synod of Father Joseph was well known for his efforts in the Diocese of Bishops elevated him to the rarely bestowed rank of Protopresbyter. Alaska, where he established Saint Herman’s Seminary, Kodiak, AK. Father Joseph also served as a member of the OCA’s Metropolitan He was born on May 15, 1927 in Clifton, NJ, the son of the Mitred Council; a member of the Board of Trustees of Saint Tikhon’s Archpriest Peter and Matushka Anna Kreta. Much of his childhood was Orthodox Theological Seminary, South Canaan, PA; dean of the New

20 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 InInInMemoriam York City Deanery; and chair of the OCA Statute Committee. He Matushka Joanna Pianovich served as treasurer of the Eastern Orthodox Commission on Scouting, member of the New York-New Jersey Diocesan Council, and member Scranton, PA – Matushka Joanna Pianovich, 86, fell asleep in the Lord of the OCA Canonical Commission. He retired from ministry in 1995. on January 14, 2012. She was the beloved wife of Archpriest Eugene Father Joseph was preceded in death by his eldest son, Archpriest Pianovich, to whom she had been married for 60 years. Peter Kreta. In addition to his beloved wife, Matushka Marie, he is Born in Olyphant, PA, the daughter of John and Martha Russin Sweda, survived by two sons, Archpriest John [Matushka Evelyn] and his twin she graduated from the former Olyphant High School and Lackawanna brother Stephen [Angela]; his daughter Maria; his daughter-in-law, Business College. She was employed by International Correspondence Matushka Marilyn Kreta [the late Father Peter]; one sister; 10 grand- School, Scranton, PA, as well as several charity groups. children; and one great-grandchild. She was very active at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Springfield, Funeral services were celebrated at Saint George Antiochian MA, where her husband served as pastor for 45 years before retiring in Orthodox Church, Phoenix, AZ and Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Monas- 2002. She was a member of Saint Nicholas Church, Olyphant. tery Church, South Canaan, PA, followed by interment at the monas- In addition to her husband, Father Eugene, she is survived by three tery cemetery. daughters, Myra [Archpriest Daniel] Kovalak, Eugenia [Archpriest May Father Joseph’s memory be eternal! John] Perich, and Joanna [Priest John] Bohush; one son, Mark [Valerie]; three sisters; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Protodeacon Blagoy E. Nicoloff She was preceded in death by a sister, Myra. Funeral services were held at Saint Nicholas Church, Olyphant, with Lorain, OH – Protodeacon Blagoy E. Nicoloff, 88, of Saints Cyril and interment at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery Cemetery, South Canaan, PA. Methodius Church here, fell asleep in the Lord on January 25, 2012. May Matushka Joanna’s memory be eternal! Born in Lorain on June 15, 1923, he entered the Army after his graduation from Lorain High School in 1941. During World War II, he Matushka Barbara Pavelchak participated in the African, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and Central European Campaigns. He earned the European African Middle Cohoes, NY – Matushka Barbara Pavelchak, 75, wife of Archpriest Eastern Service Medal with Four Bronze Stars and a Bronze Arrowhead, Daniel Pavelchak, fell asleep in the Lord on January 6, 2012, embraced as well as a Good Conduct Medal. by her loving family. He was employed by a number of concerns and by US Steel Lorain Born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, the daughter of the late John and Pauline Works until his retirement in 1976. He served as a Lorain Civil Service Kosko Gurka, she relocated to the NYS Capital District in 1971. She Commissioner during the 1970s. graduated from Hudson Valley Community College and received her He served as choir director at Saints Cyril and Methodius Church for associate’s degree in medical records. She enjoyed a long and fulfilling over 50 years and as a member and president of the parish board. Music career as manager of medical records at the Hospital Association of was one of his passions, and he and his brothers had a Macedonian band. New York State in Albany, retiring in 1999. In 2002, he was ordained to the diaconate by His Eminence, the late Matushka Barbara was very active in Saint Nicholas Church, Cohoes, Archbiship Kyrill of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania and the NY, where she was a member of the R Club. She served as the Bulgarian Diocese. He was elevated to the rank of Protodeacon in 2009. parish’s choir director, and also directed the youth choir at Saint Basil He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Diakonissa Raisa Nicoloff Church, Watervliet, NY. She had a lifelong love of music and was an [née Lysak]; son Dr. Nicola [Michele] Nicoloff, daughters Dr. accomplished pianist. Her true enjoyment came from the endless love Catherine Loboda and Ellen [Sam] D’Fantis, nine grandchildren, and of her family. She also was an ardent and relentless advocate for the three great grandchildren. Humane Society’s mission of assisting animals in need. Funeral services were celebrated at Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, In addition to her husband, Father Daniel, she is survived by two Lorain, with interment at Elmwood Cemetery. sons and one daughter, four grandchildren, one sister and one brother, May Protodeacon Blagoy’s memory be eternal! and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Theodore Gurka. Matushka Eleanor Kosko Krell Funeral services were celebrated at Saint Nicholas Church, Cohoes, NY, with interment at the parish cemetery. Wilkes-Barre, PA – Matushka Eleanor Kosko Krell, 85, wife of the late May Matushka Barbara’s memory be eternal! Archpriest Adam Jacob Krell, fell asleep in the Lord on January 19, 2012. Born February 7, 1926 in Wilkes-Barre, the daughter of the late Jo- Archpriest Michael Romanchak seph and Olga Zevan Kosko, she graduated from Plains Memorial High School, Plains, PA, in 1943. She and Father Adam served numerous Bethlehem, PA – Archpriest Michael Romanchak, 98, fell asleep in the parishes, including Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Allison Park, PA; Lord on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Saint Michael Church, Portage, PA; Saint Nicholas Church, Bethlehem, Born in Warrior Run, PA, the son of the late Stefan and Paraskeva PA; Holy Ascension Church, Lykens, PA; and Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk [Fedok] Romanchak, Father Michael graduated from Saint Tikhon’s Monasery Church, South Canaan, PA. Seminary. After his marriage to the former Julia Knapp in 1952, he was Prior to her retirement, she enjoyed working at the business office at ordained to the priesthood and served in Syracuse, NY. In 1954, he was Cove Haven Resort, Lakeville, PA. She was a member of the Crime assigned to Holy Trinity Church, Catasauqua, PA, which he faithfully Watch Unit of the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. She also volunteered served until his retirement in 1986. He served until the time of his for many years at Wilkes-Barre’s Geisinger Medical Center. death at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Bethlehem, PA. In addition to her husband, Father Adam, she was predeceased by Father Michael also volunteered as a chaplain at Allentown State her son, David Adam Krell. Survivors include one son and one Hospital for 15 years and as President of the region’s Brotherhood of daughter, two sisters, one grandson, three great grandchildren, and Orthodox Priests. He was honored by the United Fund for his service to several nieces and nephews. the community. For 15 years he delivered Meals on Wheels. He also Funeral services were celebrated at Holy Resurrection Cathedral, published numerous articles in newspapers and religious journals. Wilkes-Barre, with interment at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery Cemetery, In addition to his wife, Matushka Julia, he is survived by one son South Canaan, PA. and one daughter; three grandchildren; one nephew, Archpriest Stefan May Matushka Eleanor’s memory be eternal! In Memoriam to 22

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 21 InInInMemoriam Throughout his life he was a passionate supporter of the Orthodox from 21 community in Washington, DC. He was a founding member in 1987 [Larissa] Romanchak and their family; several other nieces and of Saint Mary Church in Falls Church, VA, serving for many years as nephews; and a grandnephew Matthew Romanchak, a novice at Holy council president. He sang with the parish’s choir and the Pan-Orthodox Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY. Madrigal Choir of Washington, which performed at the White House, Funeral services were celebrated at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Kennedy Center, and Supreme Court. In 1975, he was founder and Cathedral, Bethlehem, with interment at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery president of the Festival of Choirs, representing 25 Orthodox parishes. Cemetery. During the past 20 years, he brought numerous Romanian choirs and May Father Michael’s memory be eternal! other cultural groups to the US. In all of his endeavors, his generosity of spirit, sense of diplomacy, and good humor came through and Prifteresha Mary Page endeared him to many. Mr. Scala is survived by his wife of 45 years, Christina Y. Scala; Worcester, MA – Prifteresha Mary Page, 85, beloved wife of Archpriest their son, Armand A. Scala II; one sister, one stepbrother, and nephew Spero L. Page, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, November 13, 2011. and niece. Born in Pontiac, MI, the daughter of Clement and Vasilica [Rapo] Funeral services were celebrated Saint Mary Church, Falls Church, DeQuis, she was a longtime Church School teacher and actively with interment at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington. ministered with her husband for many years. May Armand’s memory be eternal! In addition to Father Spero, she is also survived by three sons, two brothers, two sisters, and one grandson. Funeral services were celebrated at Saint Mary’s Assumption Matushka Pauline Warnecke Church, Worcester, with interment at Hope Cemetery. Princeton, NJ – Matushka Pauline Warnecke, 89, fell asleep in the May Prifteresha Mary’s memory be eternal! Lord on September 2, 2011, after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Protopresbyter Alexander Warnecke, long-time pastor of Saint Igumen Simeon [Weare] Peter and Paul Church, Syracuse, NY. Spencerville, ON, Canada – Igumen Simeon [Weare], 83, of the Born Pauline Stepanovna Shafran to Stephan and Rosalia Shafran Monastic Community of Saint Silouan the Athonite here fell asleep in in Olyphant, PA on July 2, 1922, she and her twin brother, Archpriest the Lord after a lengthy battle with cancer on October 17, 2011. Paul Shafran, Trenton, NJ, were the youngest of the family’s five Born Edward Albert Weare in 1928, he graduated with distinction children. Their sisters, Olga Dakunchak and Matushka Sonia from Emmanuel-Saint Chad Anglican Seminary, Saskatoon, SK, and Labowsky, and their brother Emilian Shifron [sic], predeceased her. ordained to the Anglican priesthood, serving parishes in Quebec, Ontario, She married seminarian Alexander Warnecke at All Saints Church, and Alberta for 11 years. He served as chaplain at the University of Olyphant, on September 4, 1948. After his ordination in 1950, she and Alberta, and founded the Society of the Common Life, an Anglican Father Alexander began their life-long ministry at Saints Peter and Paul monastic community. Church, Syracuse, NY, until his repose in July 2001. In 1991, he was received into the Orthodox faith at Saint Herman She graduated from Saint James Hospital School of Nursing, Church, Surrey, BC, tonsured an Orthodox monastic with the name Newark, NJ, in 1943, and from Mount Carmel-Mercy Hospital School Simeon, and ordained to the priesthood. He was instrumental in for Anesthesia, Detroit, MI, in 1948. She worked for over 40 years as establishing Saint Nicholas Mission, Kamloops, BC, while continuing a nurse anesthetist at the VA Hospital in Syracuse, NY. After retiring his ministry to street people, cancer victims and others. in her mid-70s, she continued to volunteer at the VA until relocating to Funeral services were celebrated at All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Monroe, NJ in 2001. She was a pioneer in her field; she Church, Kamloops, BC. and a few other women of her time paved the way for opportunities for May Father Simeon’s memory be eternal! women in mid-level health care positions. She helped many parishioners and immigrants in Syracuse and elsewhere navigate healthcare options Armand Allen Scala and sought out medical pro-bono services for those in need. Matushka Pauline was well known as a hospitable and gracious Arlington, VA – Armand Allen Scala, a prominent member of the hostess, welcoming parishioners, friends, acquaintances, and strangers Orthodox Church in America’s Romanian Episcopate, fell asleep in the into her home, especially for dinners. She helped provide housing and Lord on October 5, 2011. comfort for many through the years. Her love was not only extended Born in 1941 in Alberta, Canada of Romanian parents – his father to other persons, but to animals, which she loved. Throughout her was a priest – he and his family moved over the next 20 years to adult life, she rescued and adopted numerous dogs and cats from various parishes in Nebraska, Michigan and Massachusetts. In 1960, shelters. She was known for her love of Russian culture, and she they moved to Washington, DC, where his father was the founding supported local linguistic, cultural, and artistic happenings in the priest at Holy Cross Church, Alexandria, VA. A 1965 graduate of Syracuse and New York City areas. She maintained an extensive American University with a BA in Government and Political Science, collection of Russian art, icons, and artifacts. he undertook post-graduate studies in International Finance, which After moving to New Jersey, she became a parishioner of Saints which he pursued a successful career in finance and investment and Peter and Paul Church, South River, before moving to Saints Cosmas started his own firm in 1982. and Damian Adult Home, Staten Island, NY, where she attended He founded the Congress of Romanian Americans [CORA] in services at Saint Irenaeus Chapel. She was much beloved by the staff 1991 to assist with the country’s integration into the Western alliance. and her fellow residents, with whom she enjoyed many activities. As CORA president, he was successful in pressing Congress and the In addition to her twin brother, Father Paul, and Matushka Mary Clinton and Bush administrations to support Romania’s admission to Shafran, she is survived by two daughters, Daria York and Argyra NATO. He also was a cofounder of the Central and Eastern European Lapchuk; her sister-in-law Elizabeth Youngblood; eight nieces and Coalition and served as vice president of the Romanian American nephews; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Chamber of Commerce. For his untiring efforts, he received numerous Funeral services were celebrated at Saints Peter and Paul Church, awards, including the National Order of Merit, rank of Commander, South River, NJ. from the President of Romania in 2004. May Matushka Pauline’s memory be eternal!

22 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 ChristianEducation MinisMinisMinistrytrytry

meaningful projects. Some Summer reading are very personal, such as keeping a rule of prayer. Three new books of interest for Others are “hard” because they are not necessarily enjoyable, children, parents, and teachers such as regularly washing the dinner dishes. Valerie Zahirsky Then there are bigger public projects, such as ith the lazy days of summer upon us, there’s plenty of coordinating an international time to catch up on reading – especially since the poll of teenagers and beginning of the Church School year is only a few disseminating the results. months off. We’d like to recommend three books Like the more personal ones, W that offer a variety of insights into Scripture, teen descriptions are given with involvement, and fostering – or destroying – children’s inspiring Biblical passages imaginations. and examples. Children’s Reader. Published by the A follow-up book, Start Greek Bible Society and available on-line through the Here, offers 100 project Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America’s suggestions and includes answers to “Orthodox Marketplace” at www.store.goarch.org, frequently asked questions. Published this book of Old and New Testament stories will help by Multnomah Books, Do Hard Things young readers get the “gist” of each story it contains, may be ordered on-line at through words that are clear and understandable. It’s www.therebelution.com. an Orthodox Christian publication, and so there are Ten Ways to Destroy the opportunities to relate words in the text to our Imagination of Your Child. worship. In the account of the Resurrection, the Parents and teachers will find plenty of food words “Why are you looking for the living among for thought in this book by Providence the dead?” can remind children of the words we College Professor Anthony Esolen, which sing during Paschal services. Similarly, the words relates how society, schools, and sometimes of the hymn we sing on Holy Saturday are part of the families stifle and deaden children’s book’s description of the imaginations. “Keep Your Children Indoors Israelites crossing the Red Sea. as Much as Possible” and “Reduce All Talk of The illustrations, mostly Love to Narcissism and Sex” are two of the 10 ways, each iconographic in style, give discussed in a chapter of the book that suggests the means of readers the opportunity to achieving the chapter’s negative goal, in the style of C. S. connect the stories to their Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters. icons. Many of the non- In a chapter titled “Cast Aspersions upon the Heroic and iconographic illustrations Patriotic,” the author writes, “Washington’s indomitable are visually engaging and courage we overlook, but we do note that he was only a fair will capture children’s tactician, and that he owned slaves.” Insights like these can be interest and attention. very helpful, and in reminding us to pay attention to the kind of Colorful, detailed maps teaching going on in our schools, though not every reader will add to the book’s appeal. agree entirely with the author’s conservative views. As with all simplified The book, available on-line from ISI Books at www.isi.org/ translations, though, it is books/bookdetail.aspx?id=bb314511-0f9e-40ce-a4ce- important to introduce 98bf96dd9eab, is filled with quotations from the Bible and children to the poetry of the classical works of literature. These, just by themselves, are Bible. In addition to a book a treasure chest of gems to share with children and young people. like this one, children should hear the words of Scripture from But the book is also well-written, and fine writing is always a traditional Bible. worth reading, especially when its subject is the well-being Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against and spiritual health of our children. Low Expectations, was written by teenaged brothers Alex and Brett Harris as a “call to action” challenging their peers to Matushka Valerie chairs the Orthodox Church in “rebel” against society’s low expectations by taking on America’s Department of Christian Education.

FallWinter/Spring 2010/Winter 20122011 TheThe OrthodoxOrthodox ChurchChurch 2319 Stewardship

additional 50%. When rooms or parts of a facility are not in use, turn off the lights and adjust the air conditioning and/or heat. Timed Going green controls for larger facilities can help save considerably on unnecessary utility usage. Reduce, recycle, and reuse. Churches Ecological projects are notorious for churning out printed bulletins, mailings, announcements, and other “disposeable” every parish can adopt! media. A few basic steps can ensure that the amount of waste in this regard is minimized. Elizabeth Perdomo • Print drafts of documents on the back of used paper to “recycle” the other side. And print out drafts in ith energy costs rising daily and the “draft” to conserve expensive ink and toner. environment a growing concern, we might ask, Use both sides of paper when possible, especially when printing “What can we as Orthodox Christians do?” The materials to distribute, for phone messages and memos, etc. The answer: “Our part” – and there are countless ways • Buy and use only recycled printer paper, in bulk. W to tweak parish attitudes and behavior that in the end • Whenever possible, encourage parish communications by can produce tremendous change! e-mail or social networking media, including news, event Change buying habits. Styrofoam is the “common notices, and newsletters. There is nothing more wasteful than denominator” at most parish coffee hours, dinners and feasts. publishing a 24-page weekly bulletin with more white space Yet styrofoam virtually never disintegrates; if burned, it and clip art than information! releases highly toxic fumes. Here are some simple suggestions Watch those costly leaks. Running toilets, dripping to effect a change in this arena. faucets and leaky spigots can waste more water than one can • As a parish, make a commitment to purchase only non-styro- imagine. A simple repair is often all that is needed. One water foam disposables – paper coffee cups, plates, bowls etc. They drop per second wastes 10,000 litres of water per year. cost slightly more, but ecologically, they save all of us plenty in Fan away the heat. Whether your parish occupies an the end. Even plastic cold drink cups are better than styrofoam. older facility, you’re considering renovations, or you’re • If plastic cups are used for cold drinks, provide several contemplating building an entirely new structure, ceiling fans waterproof markers for participants to use in writing their can help reduce the need for more costly air conditioning. The names on their cups, thereby discouraging them from grabbing liberal addition of relatively inexpensive ceiling fans can a new cup each time they want a sip of water or juice. distribute the cool air generated by air conditioning, making a • Think about “real” coffee mugs! One parish I know of had room feel much more comfortable at less cost and energy use. a large, prominently hung board with cup hooks on it so that Likewise in winter, fans set on low speed help distribute heat. parishioners could hang their own cups – and be responsible Let there be light. Where possible, retrofit newer for washing them as well. They were then hung up for use the fluorescent light bulbs to replace energy-costly incandescent next time. bulbs. If renovating space or building a new facility, plan both • What about “real” everything? Yes, I know that means fluorescent lighting and skylights to allow natural light into dishes to wash, but many parishes have dishwashers, while rooms. those that don’t may just discover that washing dishes makes a Explore alternative energy sources. We think great “team effort” and can actually be enjoyable! about adding good insulation, double paned windows, energy- Recycle. How many aluminum cans are simply thrown efficient heat and air conditioning sources and appliances into trash cans and hauled off to local landfills each week? when we build and/or renovate our homes. Why not consider The number is staggering. And there’s not a church in the land the same things in your church and hall? The choice of better that doesn’t have more than its share of aluminum cans that energy-efficient building materials and insulation are readily easily can be recycled. available. More hard-core additions, such as solar panels and • Label and place aluminum can repositories in visible places wind-powered generators should at least be explored when new in your church hall or festival grounds. Perhaps the youth structures are being planned. group would want to collect these and cash them in, using the Let’s plan for the future, not only for our parish facilities, funds for a special project or summer camp. but also for the good earth on which God has placed us as • When possible, buy large, rather than individual sized, non- stewards and caretakers. recyclable plastic soft drinks and water. Or mix up some lemonade in a five-gallon cooler or pitchers. Not only will you Matushka Elizabeth is a member of St. George Church, spend less keeping everyone hydrated, but you’ll cut down on Pharr, TX, where her husband, Fr. Antonio, is rector. In the volume of trash. addition to writing, she is highly involved in youth and Turn it down, or turn it off. When office machines, community outreach ministries. This article was adapted kitchen appliances or media equipment are not being used, from a longer article that originally appeared in the OCA turn them off. This can reduce energy costs by 25%, while Resource Handbook at http://oca.org/resource-handbook/ turning off computers at the end of the day can save an stewardeducation/ten-green-projects-any-parish-can-adopt.

24 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 TheFamily

of love for her son, cried out to the king, “Please my lord, give her And a sword shall the living baby! Don’t kill him!” But the other woman said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!” Solomon pierce your soul kept the child alive and gave it to the woman who wanted it alive, even if he would be with another mother. It was the love of a mother that saved the boy’s life, and revealed her as the real A word to mothers mother. It was more important for her to see him alive than for her to have him in her arms. Lillian Lupu Why would God put this sensitivity in a mother? We can look to the Theotokos for an n the fortieth day of answer. God had bestowed such Christ’s life, His Mother, a joyful event on her, a young the Theotokos, brought woman. He conceived in her a Him to the temple, as was Child that was greeted by angels, Othe custom of the day. kings and shepherds. He was There she met an old priest, unlike any other child. Likewise, Simeon, who long before was a He knew what pain was in store translator of the Scriptures. When for her as a result of her son’s he correctly translated Isaiah suffering. He also knew that she 7:14 – “the virgin shall would endure it and carry the conceive” – he doubted this burden God had given to her on could happen. He was then that terrible day of Christ’s promised by an angel that he crucifixion. God chose her to be would see the Christ child that special mother of a special before he died. Thus, on that son. Yet God gives all mothers day, when he saw the child and the strength and sensitivity to heard His name, “Jesus,” Simeon stand by their children and help took the baby and said, “Lord, them endure their sufferings. now lettest Thou Thy servant This is a great responsibility. depart in peace, for mine eyes The reason for these gifts of a have seen Thy salvation.” mother is to teach her children Equally significant are the virtue and to bring them to words of Simeon as he handed salvation. It’s never easy. Yet the Christ child back to His God chooses each one of us Mother: “A sword shall pierce mothers to be special and to your soul also” [Luke 2:35]. Mary endure the joys and sufferings of did not know the future God had for her only son. Simeon our children. I have only spoken of sufferings in this article, may have foretold the sword that was to pierce Christ’s side, because that is what is the hardest. We endure the joys with but a sword was also to pierce the Virgin’s heart. ease. No one needs to comfort us when our children are happy Mothers wince at Simeon’s words to Mary, for nothing pierces and comfortable. But we need help especially when there is a mother’s heart as much as her child’s pain. One might ask, pain in our hearts. That is when we need to seek the “Why has God given mothers such sensitive hearts?” They are Theotokos’ help. She has experienced more pain than we not only soft, but very vulnerable – because they are connected could imagine and knows how we feel. She once walked the to their children. We share our flesh and blood with our children same journey as mothers do today. She can be our strength. and feel their pain as if it were our own. Psalm 139:13 says, “For There is a statue in the Vatican, sculpted by Michelangelo, you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my called the Pieta. It depicts the Virgin holding the body of her mother’s womb.” There is no doubt that mothers feel a deep crucified son. Whenever I see this statue, I have to turn away, closeness to their children that is unmatched in any other because the pain I imagine the Virgin felt is too intense for me. relationship. Even in the animal kingdom, we see the maternal Our Holy Theotokos knows pain and hears us when we call to instinct that God has given for the survival of the young. A her. She is the hope of mothers and the assurance of those who mother will fight for her young. pray in their distress. And she will stand by us and deliver us The great connection and will for a child’s well-being is from our sorrows. She is the “Protecting Veil” that shelters the intrinsic to all mothers. We see it in the account of the two children of the Church, and so we mothers should turn to her. women who fought over a baby each claimed as her own [1 Kings 3:16-28]. They brought the child to King Solomon and asked Preoteasa Lillian is a member of the Nativity of the him for a decision. His decision was to cut the child in two, and Ever-Virgin Mary Church, Calgary, AB, Canada, where her give each a half. The woman whose son it was, deeply moved out husband, Father Michael, is rector.

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 25 Consecration from 11 Assembly of Bishops Bishop Alexander begins new year “Of 22 possible candidates reviewed in the first phase of the search, after an intensive review process, two candidates n a detailed report issued recently, the hierarchs of the were presented to the diocese’s Fifth Congress-Sobor in June Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and 2011,” noted the diocesan Consecration Committee Chair, central offered a review of their activities during 2011. Archpriest Andrew Jarmus. “Bishop Alexander was the The report noted that candidate elected by the Congress-Sobor’s delegates.” • the “Episcopal Assembly” was formally incorporated In October 2011, the members of the OCA’s Holy Synod I as the “Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and of Bishops elected Archimandrite Alexander Bishop of Central America [ACOB],” on October 18, 2011. Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese. • the Secretariat’s second annual meeting was held in Raised at Saint Innocent Church, Tarzana, CA, Bishop Riverside, CA in January 2012. During the meeting, Alexander received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from “Conversations With Our Bishops,” a series of audio interviews the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of of the Assembly’s 53 member hierarchs providing perspectives Divinity degree from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. He spent to the Church-at-large on the significance and work of the seven years pursuing doctoral studies at Oxford University in Assembly, received special attention. Nearly two dozen England under His Eminence, Metropolitan Kallistos [Ware]. interviews are now available on the Assembly’s web site at During this time, he also spent two years in Greece, including www.assemblyofbishops.org. Secretariat members also one year at Simonos Petras Monastery on Mount Athos. considered encouraging all ACOB agencies – International After receiving his D.Phil. in 1980, he returned to the US. Orthodox Christian Charities, Orthodox Christian Mission He was ordained to the diaconate in January 1982 and to the Center, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, etc. – to hold their priesthood two years later. In 1986, he was tonsured to annual meetings at the same venue as the Assembly’s annual monastic orders. He served missions in northern California meeting, in conjunction with a major youth event and a and headed the Diocese of the West’s mission committee. concelebrated Liturgy as a means of demonstrating “a unity of In 1989, he began teaching in the Theology Department at purpose for Orthodox Christians.” Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, a position which he • five ACOB committees – Financial Affairs, Youth, left at the end of April this year. Concurrently, he was attached Pastoral Practice, Canonical Regional Planning, and Clergy to Milwaukee’s Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, where Affairs – met recently. By developing models for cooperative he served and taught for 22 years. He also helped attract a youth activities and programs, the Committee hopes to dozen Orthodox Christian students to doctoral work in maximize participation by our youth in the full life of the Church. theology at Marquette. • positive responses were received as a result of ACOB’s Bishop Alexander becomes the second Bishop of Toledo “Record of Protest Against the Infringement of Religious and the Bulgarian Diocese, which includes 19 parishes and Liberty by the Department of Health and Human Services,” missions and one monastery. issued in reaction to HHS’s ruling to require religious hospitals, educational institutions, and other organizations to pay for the Editorial from 2 full cost of contraceptives (including some abortion-inducing drugs) and sterilizations for their employees, regardless of the Remembering Fr. John Meyendorff religious convictions of the employers. • a priority issue in 2012 is the formal adoption of by-laws, priest, teacher and educator, dedicated to the Orthodox Church which are currently under review. All member hierarchs will be in America, and honored around the world as a theologian, given the opportunity to comment on them. articulate voice for Orthodoxy in the ecumenical context – all • a process for endorsing Orthodox organizations is under of these dimensions were integrated and harmonious, and all development. A “statement of principles” is also being created were at the service of the Good News of Christ and the Church to define the relationship between the Assembly and endorsed of Christ. organizations. When Father John received the Sacrament of Unction not • a series of public “town hall meetings” is being planned long before his death, he said one word – “Eucharist.” to provide an opportunity for clergy and laity to ask questions When the Eucharistic Liturgy is celebrated at Saint about the Assembly and the work of its committees. Vladimir’s Seminary Chapel, the icon behind the altar table The Assembly of Bishops is a council of all active, canoni- is the icon of Christ giving Communion to the Apostles. cal Orthodox bishops of North America. Its purpose is to Father John’s vision and experience of the Church was deepen the ties of brotherhood among the bishops, give them a deeply Eucharistic. As he approached the hour of his death, common and united voice, and create a greater unity of action the Eucharist stood at the center of his vision. The life and among all the Orthodox faithful of North America. Additional ministry of Father John, as well as his sickness and death, information may be found at on ACOB’s web site at were full of the hope of the resurrection. And this joyful www.assemblyofbishops.org. hope is fulfilled in the Eucharist given to us by Christ.

26 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 ElseElseElsewherwherwhereee

Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America and the UOCUSA. He The repose of represented his Church at meetings of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops and the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central America, serving as Metropolitan Constantine chair of the latter’s Commission on Liturgy. Funeral services were celebrated at Saint Vladimir Church, is Eminence, Metropolitan Pittsburgh, on May 25, with interment the following day at the Constantine [Buggan], 75, parish cemetery. spiritual leader of the May Metropolitan Constantine’s memory be eternal! Ukrainian Orthodox H Church of the USA [UOCUSA], fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, May 21, 2012 – one Up from the ashes: day after celebrating the 40th anniversary of his archpastoral ministry. Rebuilding St. Nicholas According to a press release issued by the Consistory Office Church at Ground Zero of Public Relations, Metropolitan Constantine had taken ill a few Metropolitan fter numerous delays, reconstruction of Saint Nicholas weeks earlier and was released Constantine Greek Orthodox Church – the only house of worship from the hospital three days destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attack on New before his repose. The anniversary celebration took place in York’s World Trade Center, is “back on track.” McKees Rocks, PA on Sunday, May 20. “The new World Trade Center will not be whole and A native of Pittsburgh, Metropolitan Constantine was born A complete until the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is Theodore Buggan July 29, 1936. In 1955, he began studies at rebuilt,” Patrick J. Foye, Executive Director of the Port Saint Andrew College, the Seminary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Authority, told His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Church of Canada, Winnipeg, MB. After his graduation, he Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America and representa- continued his studies at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, New York, tives of Saint Nicholas parish during a recent meeting held at NY. In 1965, he graduated from Duquesne University, the offices of the Director for the WTC construction, Steven Pittsburgh. The following year, he was ordained to the Plate. At the meeting, a comprehensive presentation of the priesthood by His Eminence, Metropolitan John [Theodorovich], planning and construction underway in the World Trade and assigned assistant pastor of Chicago’s Saint Vladimir Center was reviewed. The future site of Saint Nicholas Church Cathedral. He was transferred to Saint Nicholas Church, Troy, was a significant part of the presentation through architectural NY, in 1968. plans and virtual reality renderings. In May 7, 1972, he was consecrated to the episcopacy at Saint WTC to 28 Vladimir Cathedral, Philadelphia, becoming the UOCUSA’s first American-born hierarch. While he served as Bishop of Chicago, he also visited parishes throughout the US, Europe, Australia and South America. He was especially devoted to the Church’s youth as the future of the Church and conducted numerous youth retreats in conjunction with the Education Commission of the Ukrainian Orthodox League. He continually reminded the faithful to pay attention to their children and to bear their responsibility as parents to raise them in the faith while serving as loving examples for them. He was also instrumental in the establishment of Saint Sophia Seminary, Bound Brook, NJ, in 1975. He was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop and later Metropolitan in 1987 and 1992 respectively. After the repose of His Eminence, Metropolitan Mystyslav Archbishop [Skrypnyk] in 1993, he was elected Metropolitan of the UOCUSA, Demetrios at which shortly thereafter was received into the Ecumenical 9/11 site. Patriarchate. In 1996, he presided over the unification of the

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 27 Elsewhere WTC from 27 Up from ashes IOCC: Twenty years Archbishop Demetrios praised NY Governor Andrew Cuomo for his role in achieving a positive resolution for the church’s of humanitarian service reconstruction. He also remarked on the important role of New York Senator and Majority Leader Dean Skelos and other arking its 20th Anniversary in the presence of more than individuals. 350 Orthodox Christian faithful and friends, International Mr. Plate and his associates led Archbishop Demetrios and Orthodox Christian Charities [IOCC] celebrated two the other participants on a tour through the construction site. decades of delivering humanitarian assistance around They stopped in front of the site where Saint Nicholas Church is M the globe with an anniversary gala in Washington, DC to be built at the corner of Liberty and Greenwich streets – May 8, 2012. the south-east corner of WTC. It is estimated that, once IOCC, founded in 1992 as the official humanitarian aid complete, the site will attract some 250,000 passers-by daily. agency of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Following a walk around the Memorial Plaza and the Bishops in the Americas [SCOBA], has implemented relief and footprint of the fallen towers, the group was offered a panoramic development programs in more than 40 countries. view from the 90th floor of the One World Trade Center Tower The celebration began at the US Capitol with an afternoon (previously known as Freedom Tower), which is still under Congressional reception at the Rayburn Building. IOCC board construction. From that vantage point, Archbishop Demetrios members and guests mingled with a number of members of and his entourage were able to view the entire area of the World Congress, each of whom praised IOCC for its humanitarian Trade Center and the extraordinary work accomplished there. efforts in some of the most volatile places in the world. Mr. Plate invited Archbishop Demetrios to inscribe a thought on A gala reception and dinner followed at the Capital Hilton, one of the steel columns on the 90th floor. He wrote, “This is a attended by His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, chair of the miracle of human creativity, love and courage in defeating Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central hatred and darkness, and in building love, hope and perspective America; His Eminence, Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian of a bright future for our beautiful America, the place of God’s Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas; His Eminence, love and blessings. Archbishop Demetrios of America 6.6.12.” Metropolitan Nikitas of Dardanellia; and His Grace, Bishop For a photo gallery please visit http://photos.goarch.org/ Dimitrios of Xanthos. Numerous foreign dignitaries and main.php?g2_itemId=6241. ambassadors also were in the audience. Michael S. Homsey, IOCC board chair, introduced a special video presentation, “Respond. Rebuild. Uplift,” narrated by Study reveals five facts IOCC executive director, Constantine M. Triantafilou. The video highlighted IOCC’s humble beginnings, the challenges of delivering humanitarian aid under difficult and dangerous about Orthodox America conditions, and the organization’s vision for the future. During the banquet, five former IOCC board members received he Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and the “Compassion at Work” award for their extraordinary Central America’s research coordinator, Alexei Krindatch, philanthropic contributions to IOCC’s mission over the past 20 recently released a new 40-page report titled “Five years. Recipients included Charles R. Ajalat, Andrew A. Athens, Interesting Facts About Orthodox Church Geography and Dr. George J. Fahra, George M. Marcus, and John G. Rangos, Sr. T Demography in the United States.” All five honorees are honorary IOCC board members. The amply illustrated report includes sections that survey Attendees also enjoyed a live performance by singer Chris Orthodox parish membership and attendance, location, the role Hillman, a founding member of The Byrds, who performed the hit of ethnic culture, and monastic communities across the US. song, “Turn, Turn, Turn,” the lyrics of which are taken from the Among Mr. Krindatch’s findings is that Illinois’ Cook County/ Book of Ecclesiastes. Joining him on stage were area Orthodox Chicago has the largest concentration of Orthodox faithful – Christian children in ethnic constumes, who carried flags 48,114 of all canonical jurisdictions – of the nation’s reported representing the countries IOCC has served since its inception. 797,000 adherents. With regard to attendance, the report reveals At the conclusion of the program, the establishment of the that only 26% of all Orthodox faithful in America participate in Harry and Liberty Tsakalos Endowment for Agriculture Church life on a regular basis. Weekly attendance in the Development and Food Security by Baltimore philanthropists Orthodox Church in America, however, was reported at 40%, Nicholas and Jeanne Tsaklos, was made. The generous outpaced only by the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese and $100,000.00 gift to the newly established fund will advance the Bulgarian Patriarchal Diocese, both of which registered 47% programs that provide emergency food assistance to people weekly attendance. It was also noted that the weekly attendance affected by natural disasters and emergencies, agricultural percentage is far higher in small parishes than large ones. support and training for farmers, and other initiatives that The study may be downloaded in PDF format at provide effective and lasting solutions to hunger and life- www.assemblyofbishops.org/files/news/FiveFacts.pdf. saving nourishment to vulnerable families around the world.

28 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 Emmaus from 9 At the heart of pilgrimage is the struggle not to let Pilgrimage as a way of life my dread of the other prevent meetings with strangers. Just as on the road to Emmaus, it is in the disguise of the stranger that deep turning. Each of the conversions I experience shifts the Christ appears. way I see, hear and act. Each conversion is a freeing event. I often think of a nun who gave me a ride from Louisville to Something I desperately and addictively needed yesterday has Lexington when I was in to give a few lectures. It’s become superfluous today. Certain fears with which I previously now too long ago for me to remember her name, but I will struggled have been burned away. never forget the spirit of welcome that she radiated. Her old, There is not one conversion in life. Conversion follows battered car is also not easily forgotten, though it would have conversion like an ascending ladder. Each rung reveals another. been worth little in a used-car lot. In her care it had become a It’s a slow process, one that can never be forced or hurried. We house of hospitality on wheels. As we drove along the highway, are still busy being converted when we die. A good title for any the glove compartment door in front of me kept popping open. autobiography would be the two-word message a computer I closed it repeatedly, each time noticing a pile of maps inside occasionally displays when adapting a file from one program and also a book. The text on the spine of the book caught my format to another: “Conversion in progress.” eye: “Guests.” I pulled it out, discovering page after page of Conversion isn’t something we do entirely on our own. As signatures, most of which gave the impression that the person pilgrims, the main challenge is not to miss Jesus along the way. signing was barely literate. It requires the recognition that, no matter how alone we are, there “What is this?” I asked. are no solitary journeys. Life is a series of meetings. The only “Oh that’s my guest book.” question is how deep we allow the meetings to be. The “I” exists “But why keep it in the car?” only in communion with others. “Well, of course, I always pick up hitchhikers, so I need a We interact with other people every day: family, friends, guest book.” neighbors, co-workers, plus many people we don’t know by It was very matter-of-fact to her, but I was astonished. Though name, who we meet briefly in shops, on buses and trains, behind I had been a hitchhiker myself back in my early twenties, I counters, beggars on the street. How much real contact we have knew picking up hitchhikers was not without risks, especially with someone known by name or an anonymous stranger is partly for women. up to us. Even people living or working under the same roof can “But isn’t that dangerous?” I asked. be too busy, too irritated, or too fearful for real contact to occur. “Well, I have had many guests sitting where you are now, But there is always the possibility of conversation that moves most of them men, and I never felt I was in danger.” beyond the exchange of distance-keeping civilities. To be a She went on to explain that when she pulled over to offer a pilgrim – to be on the road to Emmaus – is to be open to contact, ride, she immediately introduced herself by name. Then she willing to share stories, willing to talk about the real issues in asked, “And what’s your name?” The immediate exchange of one’s life, willing to listen with undivided attention. names, she explained, was a crucial first step in hospitality and “Our life and our death is with our neighbor,” said Saint one likely to make for safety. Anthony the Great, founder of Christian monasticism. “If we “Once two people entrust their names to each other,” she win our brother, we win God. If we cause our brother to stumble, explained, “there is a personal relationship.” we have sinned against Christ” [1]. The next step was to ask the guest to put his name in writing: There is no such thing as finding Christ while avoiding our “I would be grateful if you would sign my guest book.” neighbor. The main thing impeding that encounter is my She didn’t have to explain to me that few of the people to suffocating fear of the other. As the Orthodox theologian, whom she had given rides had ever been regarded as anyone’s Metropolitan John Zizioulas, comments, “Communion with the guests, and fewer still had been invited to sign a guest book. other is not spontaneous; it is built upon fences which protect us “I’ve met many fine people,” she told me, “people who have from the dangers implicit in the other’s presence. We accept been a blessing to me. I never had any troubles, though you the other only insofar as he does not threaten our privacy or could see that many of them had lived a hard life.” insofar as he is useful to our individual happiness.... The essence Anyone reading the lives of the saints will notice that life- of sin is the fear of the Other, which is part of the rejection of God. changing meetings with strangers are not rare events. Pick any Once the affirmation of the “self” is realized through the century, pick just about any saint, dig carefully enough into rejection and not the acceptance of the Other – this is what Adam the stories that have come down to us, and again and again one chose in his freedom to do – it is only natural and inevitable finds both pilgrim and stranger. As the life of grace deepens, for the other to become an enemy and a threat. Reconciliation many saints are no longer willing to wait to meet strangers by with God is a necessary pre-condition for reconciliation with chance, but make it their business to do the finding. any ‘other’” [2]. Among recent examples of those who each day sought Christ That last sentence also works in reverse: Reconciliation with in the poor is Mother Maria Skobtsova, a recently canonized the other is a necessary precondition for reconciliation with God. Orthodox nun. She founded a house of hospitality in For as the Gospel author Saint John writes, “He who says he is in 1933. In 1940, when the German army marched into Paris, in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still” [1 John hospitality became a vocation involving huge risks. Taking in 2:9]. The path to heaven leads through the rush-hour traffic of many Jews and finding places of safety for them, Mother Maria the human race. Emmaus to 30

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 29 Emmaus from 29 But being a pilgrim is not a naive undertaking. There are, we Pilgrimage as a way of life all know, strangers who are dangerous. Should our fear of violence lead us to avoid all strangers for that reason? Should and her co-workers were well aware they were courting arrest. our fear of death lead us to live cautiously? In the end, she and three others from the same community died But Christian pilgrims have always known that they might in Nazi concentration camps. die on the way, like countless thousands of pilgrims before them. At the heart of Mother Maria’s countless acts of welcoming There are many graves along the roads leading to Jerusalem strangers was her conviction that each person without exception and Santiago de Compostela. Statistically, unexpected death bears the image of God. As she wrote, “If someone turns with his along the way may be less likely for the modern pilgrim than it spiritual world toward the spiritual world of another person, he was in earlier times, but still accidents happen, grave sicknesses encounters an awesome and inspiring mystery. He comes into occur, and there are even occasional act of violence and even contact with the true image of God in man, with the very icon murder. The pilgrim’s attitude traditionally has been, “Sooner of God incarnate in the world, with a reflection of the mystery of or later I die. If it happens while on pilgrimage, what better way God’s incarnation and divine manhood. And he needs to accept to cross life’s final border? Why be afraid?” this awesome revelation of God unconditionally, to venerate Pilgrimage is not getting from point A to point B on the map the image of God in his brother. Only when he senses, perceives while counting the miles. The distances covered are incidental. and understands it will yet another mystery be revealed to him – What matters is being on the road to Emmaus – the road of one that will demand his most dedicated efforts. He will perceive discovering Christ in the Other. Pilgrimage was, and still is, that the divine image is veiled, distorted and disfigured by the the great adventure of becoming unblinded. We discover it is power of evil. And he will want to engage in battle with the impossible not to be in the presence of God. God is with us all devil for the sake of the divine image” [3]. the time, only we don’t notice. It’s not that we are technically The Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn made the same blind. We may be able to read the small print in an insurance discovery, in his case while a prisoner in Stalin’s archipelago contract without glasses and to make out the shape of a high- of concentration camps, an environment of profound contempt flying jet, and yet there is so much we don’t yet see that we live for life. While witnessing cruelty day after day, Solzhenitsyn in a darkness that is not unlike actual blindness. It is a condition found the anger and hatred he felt was gradually replaced by not caused by physical damage but by deeply rooted fears, the compassion. As religious faith took the place of Marxist imprisonment of self-absorption, and ideological obsessions. ideology, it became more and more evident to him that no Walking the road to Emmaus, as a Christian on permanent human being has ever been born in whom there is no trace of pilgrimage, is the great journey into real seeing. It is not only the Creator. Even the most vile person at certain moments the act of going to one of the places where great miracles have reveals some evidence of God. As Solzhenitsyn wrote in The happened or where some event in the life of Jesus occurred. Gulag Archipelago: “The line separating good and evil passes It can be the journey to the front door of your house, opening not through states, nor between classes, nor between political it with a real welcome. It can be choosing to see an unexpected parties either – but right through every human heart – and through and seemingly untimely event not as an irritating interruption, all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with but as a potential moment of grace. It can be your caring the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one response to a beggar. It can be the journey to forgiveness in a small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of situation in which forgiveness seemed impossible. It can be hearts, there remains...... an un-uprooted small corner of evil” [4]. the difficult decision to take part in some act of public witness Mainly one learns this only in the crucible of life. It’s a whose objective is to oppose killing, whether in war or by truth rarely revealed in movies. In films, those who do evil abortion or in an execution chamber. tend to be evil. The evil is imbedded in their DNA. They had a It’s all pilgrimage. And we are all on the road to Emmaus. pathological twist before they were born. The only cure for such 1. Benedicta Ward, The Sayings of the Desert Fathers: The pure evil is death. Thus, killing evil people is an act of a virtue. Alphabetical Collection; : Mowbrays; Kalamazoo: It’s what we think heroes do. Far from wanting to meet such Cistercian Publications; see Anthony 9. people and search in them for a “small bridgehead of good,” 2. John Zizioulas, “Communion and Otherness,” Orthodox Peace we either applaud their executions or, should our awareness of Fellowship Occasional Paper nr. 19, Summer 1994; http:// the mercy of Christ protect us from advocating killing as a incommunion.org/articles/previous-issues/older-issues/ solution, insist that they be locked up as long and grimly as communion-and-otherness. possible, ideally until claimed by the grave. Seeing how 3. “The Second Gospel Commandment” in Mother Maria merciless such people have been, we are tempted to think that Skobtsova: Essential Writings, edited by Hélène Arjakovsky- they deserve no mercy and can never change for the better. Klépinine, translated from the Russian by Richard Pevear and In fact we behave toward them in a way that makes our dire Larissa Volokhonsky; Maryknoll: Orbis Books. expectations all the more likely. 4. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago, vol. 2, A great problem of thinking along such grim, vindictive “The Ascent;” translation by Thomas P. Whitney. lines – imagining we know a person we know only through clippings or movies and resolutely refusing to search for God’s Jim Forest is a well known author and speaker and image in him – is that we exclude ourselves from walking on the secretary general the Netherlands-based Orthodox Peace road to Emmaus. Fellowship, based in Alkmaar, The Netherlands.

30 The Orthodox Church Winter/Spring 2012 Chancellor from 17 friends, fellow clergy – too many to name. But the ones who OCA Chancellor: A Spirit of “Sobornost” had special influence are Archbishop Sylvester [Haruns], and Fathers Oleg Boldireff, George Hasenecz, and John Tkachuk – As Father Thomas Hopko says, we have to pick up the “cross all of whom I encountered before going to seminary – and of collaboration” at every point to build the living temple of Metropolitan Kallistos [Ware], Fathers Paul Lazor, Thomas God. We Orthodox are at a turning point in our history in North Hopko, John Breck, Paul Tarazi, John Meyendorff, and – above America. We could each turn back to our own various brands all – Father Alexander Schmemann. of insularity, or we could create a truly united Church that The lives and work of Father Lev Gillet, Nicolas Zernov, recognizes and builds on the particular gifts of each. For all our “Father Arseny,” Elder Porphyrios, Father Alexander Elchaninov, posturing as Orthodox, the fact is that we are a tiny and still Mother Maria [Skobtsova] are also noteworthy. Other saints largely unknown minority on this continent. We have not yet who have left a deep impression on my thinking about minis- begun to bring the full message of the Orthodox Church to try include Saints Herman, Innocent, Tikhon of Moscow, North America. Nor can we if we remain what we are now. We Raphael Hawaweeny, Seraphim of Sarov, John of Kronstadt, need once again to become a missionary Church, to recognize and John Vianney. that there are diverse human needs in our communities – and I have also been influenced by aspects of the life and I don’t just mean our parishes – that we are called to notice and teaching of Frank Buchman (his sense of attentiveness to to serve in the name of Christ. This will call forth new types of divine guidance), Billy Graham and Jerry Fallwell (not his missionary life, not unlike the early Church that learned how “moral majority,” but his determination to be a pastor to the to bring the message of Christ to Jews and to Gentiles, in people in his community), and, believe it or not, Theodore different ways, becoming all things to all people. Roosevelt. Name your top priorities for your first year In the early 1990s, when I was working on a Doctor of Minstry as Chancellor. degree at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, I spent six months on a The first year will especially be about establishing good fieldwork project in Newark, NJ, with Mother Teresa’s “Mis- working relationships on every level – with His Beatitude and sionaries of Charity.” The nuns and their work impressed me the Holy Synod, the Chancery officers and staff, and the greatly (and I had the opportunity to meet Mother Teresa). I’m leadership in our seminaries, dioceses, military and hospital more and more convinced that if we as Orthodox aren’t chaplaincies, and departments. I also would like to get to know “missionaries of charity,” if we aren’t looking around to see my counterparts in the other Orthodox churches in North America. the needs in our communities and seeking to serve them “out The other priorities include of reverence for Christ,” God will not give us much of a • seeing to the orderly and calm functioning of Central Church future. Administration. I’m inspired by day-to-day saints I’ve encountered – what • building on the All-American Council and working closely Father Michael Plekon calls the “hidden holiness” of unsung with the dioceses and the Metropolitan Council to move people who naturally, unselfconsciously, joyfully love Christ step-by-step toward proportional giving throughout the Church and look to the needs of others – people like the three women and a careful assessment of what tasks belong to the various who took care of my late mother-in-law for four years as she levels of Church administration – the Central Church, the had Alzheimer’s and her health failed. It is very humbling to dioceses and deaneries, and the parishes. be a priest, a life-long Orthodox with lots of education and • working with Bishop Michael and others to reignite and experience, and to realize how little one really knows about fund OCA-wide ministries and mission. true Christian ministry. I see such examples everywhere. • ensuring that the OCA is doing everything it can to prevent Still, however, the deepest influence on my approach to and address sexual misconduct. ministry is the New Testament, or rather Jesus Christ, and how I If you could offer one message to the clergy have known Him in the pages of the New Testament and in the and faithful laboring in the communities of the life of the Church. OCA, what would you want to tell them? “It’s worth it. Don’t lose heart. Keep looking up. Rejoice!” That’s the Spirit from 3 Church life can bring disappointments, especially if we put too much faith in “princes and sons of men.” But if we hold on to “He’s coming back!” our first love, and remember Who brought us here, then “our youth will be renewed like the eagle’s.” The Lord wants us to When this will happen is anyone’s guess – and many have cast a fire upon the earth, but that fire has to be in us first. So, mistakenly guessed over the centuries. Only God the Father before we get carried away with projects, parish, mission and knows. In the meantime, we wait; but we wait in hope. As for us problems, we need to pray daily, read the scriptures, and re-kindle as Orthodox Christians, this hope is manifested and expressed that inner fire that God alone can give. in the same manner as the disciples after the Ascension: “They On a personal note, who have been the were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.” mentors, writers and/or saints who have most That’s how they expressed their hope. And that’s how we shaped your philosophy of ministry? express ours! There is a cloud of witnesses who have taught me about Fr. Daniel Kovalak is rector of Holy Cross Church, ministry, from various times in my life, including relatives, Williamsport, PA.

Winter/Spring 2012 The Orthodox Church 31 Walking pilgrims begin 11-mile procession from Mayfield to the Monastery.:

ROCOR Eastern American Diocese - www.eadiocese.org The Walking Pilgrims!

wishing to venerate the processional cross. Reviving an old tradition, Metropolitan Jonah and His Grace, Archbishop Tikhon, welcomed the physically weary but spiritually uplifted walking celebrating a new spirit of unity! pilgrims at the monastery arch, after which the pilgrims enjoyed a dinner especially prepared in anticipation of their arrival. or 108 years, Orthodox Christian faithful have flocked A special documentary on the pilgrimage,“Strength in to Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA, on Unity,” was recently released by the Media Office of the Eastern Memorial Day weekend for the annual pilgrimage. American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of While hundreds of faithful drove to the the monastery Russia. The video, together with photo galleries of the Hierar- this year, some four-dozen pilgrims – including Archpriest F chical Divine Liturgy in Mayfield and the Memorial Day Liturgy John Jillions, OCA Chancellor – revived a tradition from bygone at the monastery and related videos, is available on-line at http:/ days: they walked in a 13 mile, four hour procession from Saint /www.eadiocese.org/News/2012/may/unity.en.htm. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Mayfield, PA, to Saint Tikhon’s “in the footsteps of their forefathers.” According to Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, who helped coordinate the procession, the tradition died out some three decades ago. The procession route was the same as that used by faithful at the monastery’s first pilgrimage in 1905. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saint John’s, after which the Very Reverend Mitred Archpriest John Sorochka, rector, and the cathedral faithful hosted a luncheon. The Liturgy was especially historic inasmuch as it marked the first time since 1982 that an OCA hierarch had served at the cathedral. [For a detailed historical commentary, visit the cathedral’s web site at http://www. stjohnsmayfield.org/announcements.] Following the celebration of a Service of Prayer, the “walking pilgrims,” who ranged in age from four to 55-plus, set out for the Metropolitan Jonah monastery. En route, they sang hymns, paused for water – the welcomes walking pilgrims temperature was well above 80 degrees! – and, at one point, at monastery arch. stopped at a house along the way as a man approached them,